AND THE - Home - Free Church of Scotland · Report 32, 90 Assistant Clerk, Presentation to 53 ......

THE PRINCIPAL

ACTS

OF THE

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

OF THE

FREE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND

CONVENED AT EDINBURGH MAY 2015

WITH THE

MINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THAT ASSEMBLY

AND THE

MINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMISSION

OF THE PREVIOUS ASSEMBLY

FREE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND, THE MOUND, EDINBURGH (Scottish Charity Number: SC012925)

MMXV

2015] THE FREE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND 1

INDEX

2015

PAGE

A

Accounts

Appendix

Acts, Principal 5

Assembly Clerks’ Office

Report 32, 90

Assistant Clerk, Presentation to 53

Appointments 90

B

Board of Ministry

Report 82, 148

Board of Trustees

Report 36, 105

Supplementary Report

Appointment of Assistant Clerk 52

C

Commission of Assembly

Acts 23

Appointed 92

Minutes 178

D

Deceased Ministers and Elders

Committee to prepare Minute

Appointed 32

Report 92

Delegates 53, 72, 89

Development Officer’s Report 140

E

Edinburgh Theological Seminary Board

Report 77,162

Supplementary Report:

Appointment of Principal 79

Principal’s Report 164

G

General Assembly of 2016 appointed 93

PAGE

H

Home Missions Board

Report 65, 129


Youth 54, 62


Ecumenical Relations 74

I

International Missions Board

Report 89, 173

L

Letters 34

Lord High Commissioner - visit 89

Loyal and Dutiful Address Committee

Appointed 32

Report 35

Lyle Orr Prize-winners 62

M

Minutes of the Proceedings 30

Moderator

Elected 32

Address 35

N

North American Synod

Report 90

P

Petition

Rev. Ruairdh MacLean 63

Presbytery: Inverness, Lochaber and Ross

Union of Kilmorack and Kiltarlity 80

Psalmody and Praise Committee

Report 63, 145


PAGE

R

Representatives from Other Churches 32, 65

Roll of Assembly 30

S

Standing Orders 205

V

Visitation of Records

Committee Appointed 32

Report 91


CONTENTS

2015

______________________________________________________________________________________________

CLASS I – ACTS THAT HAVE PASSED THE BARRIER ACT

None

CLASS II – ACTS THAT ARE OF GENERAL INTEREST TO THE CHURCH

1. Act appointing a Business Committee for the General Assembly

2. Act appointing a General Assessor to the Presbytery of Skye and Wester Ross

3. Act appointing a General Assessor to the Northern Presbytery

4. Act anent Loyal and Dutiful Address to Her Majesty the Queen

5. Act anent Stipend and Related Salaries

6. Act anent Compliance and Risk Management

7. Act anent Communications Strategy

8. Act anent appointment of the Editor of The Record

9. Act anent Review and Oversight of Magazines

10. Act anent fixed terms of appointment for Clerks to Committees, Boards, Presbyteries and the General Assembly

11. Act authorising the appointment of a Missions Director

12. Act authorising the appointment of Deacons as members of the Board of Trustees and other matters

13. Act appointing a Missions Board to replace the Home and International Missions Boards

14. Act authorising the Board of Trustees to deal with Petitions relating to Properties held under the Model Trust

Deed

15. Act anent Sale of Properties and Release of Funds

16. Act appointing the Judicial Commission

17. Act anent Synods

18. Act appointing Assistant Clerk of Assembly

19. Act granting Rev. Ruairidh Maclean a seat in the Presbytery of Glasgow and Argyll

20. Act terminating the Post of Development Officer

21. Act anent Future of Asian Outreach Work in Glasgow

22. Act anent Training of Church Planters and Evangelists

23. Act anent Ministerial Arrangements in the Redevelopment Charge of Glenurquhart and Fort Augustus

24. Act anent North-East Glasgow Team Ministry

25. Act terminating the north Team-Ministry and Arrangements for Ministers and constituent Congregations

26. Act admitting the Congregation of Covenant Church, Newmilns, as a Congregation of the Free Church of Scotland

27. Act anent arrangements for the Congregation of Cobham Presbyterian Church

28. Act renewing permission for the Appointment of an Assistant Minister for Dowanvale Free Church, Glasgow

29. Act renewing the appointment of Rev. Calum MacMillan as Assistant minister of Rosskeen Free Church

30. Act authorising the Commission of Assembly to receive a Report from the Missions Board regarding Ministerial

Arrangements for Harris Free Church

31. Act anent Reporting of Congregations to the General Assembly

32. Act anent Regulations for appointment of a Principal of the Edinburgh Theological Seminary

33. Act appointing Rev. Iver Martin as Principal of the Edinburgh Theological Seminary

34. Act disjoining the former Congregation of Kilmorack and Strathglass from the Congregation of Glenurquhart and

fort Augustus and uniting it with the Congregation of Kiltarlity and Kirkhill

35. Act authorising the Commission of Assembly to receive and dispose of Applications from Ministers of other

Denominations for admission to the Ministry of the Free Church of Scotland

36. Act anent Applications for the Ministry of the Free Church of Scotland, and Ministry Apprenticeships

37. Act anent Practical Training of Students

38. Act anent Scripture Examinations and Presbyterial Oversight of Students

39. Act anent Pastoral Care of Ministers and their Families

40. Act anent Licensing of Students

41. Act anent Award of Grants to Overseas Workers

42. Act appointing the Commission of Assembly

43. Act appointing next General Assembly


ACTS OF THE COMMISSSION OF ASSEMBLY

1. Act admitting Rev. David Macleod to the Ministry of the Free Church of Scotland

2. Act admitting Rev. Roderick Macrae to the Ministry of the Free Church of Scotland

3. Act admitting the Body of Christians recently disjoined from Tarbert Church of Scotland to be a Congregation of

the Free Church of Scotland

4. Act admitting the congregation presently known as Stornoway High Fellowship as a Congregation of the Free

Church of Scotland

5. Act anent Negotiations with the North American Synod

6. Act anent Sale of Property and Release of Funds

7. Act admitting Rev. Aonghas Iain Macdonald as a Minister of the Free Church of Scotland

8. Act admitting Rev. Andrew McMillan as a Minister of the Free Church of Scotland

9. Act admitting Rev. Athole Rennie as a Minister of the Free Church of Scotland

10. Act admitting the Congregation of Grace Church, Leith, as a Congregation of the Free Church of Scotland

11. Act admitting the Congregation of Christ Church, Edinburgh, as a Congregation of the Free Church of Scotland

12. Act admitting the Congregation of Hope Church (Blackwood and Kirkmuirhill) as a Congregation of the Free

Church of Scotland

13. Act placing the Name of the Rev. Benjamin van Rensberg on the Register of Ministers eligible for Call

14. Act XIV – Act anent Sale of Property

DRAFT ACTS SENT DOWN UNDER THE BARRIER ACT

1. Act anent Representation of Presbyteries

2. Act authorising the Appointment of Additional Elders to the General Assembly in Cases where Elders are unable

to attend for the whole Assembly.


THE PRINCIPAL

ACTS

OF THE

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE FREE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND

MAY MMXV

CLASS I – ACTS WHICH HAVE PASSED THE BARRIER ACT

None

CLASS II – ACTS THAT ARE OF GENERAL INTEREST TO THE CHURCH

Act I - Act appointing a Business Committee for the General Assembly

(No 1 of Class II)

Monday 18th May 2015

The General Assembly appoint a Business Committee of Assembly, comprising the Principal Clerk, the Assistant Clerk

and the Clerks of all the home Presbyteries. The Committee shall meet at a convenient point not later than 15th April

annually to examine all papers in the hands of the Principal Clerk due to come before the Assembly. The Committee

shall appoint its own Convener annually at its April meeting and the Principal Clerk shall act as Clerk to the Committee.

The Convener shall be responsible for introducing the Lord High Commissioner to the Receiving Party and to the

Moderator, as well as delegates and others to the Moderator, apart from the children receiving Youth Awards. The

Committee shall present its Report to the Assembly at the first sederunt. The Report shall incorporate a Report from

the Clerks’ Office and shall be bound with all the other Reports to be distributed in advance of the Assembly.

The General Assembly authorise the Business Committee, to designate as routine those Petitions they consider ought

to be in this category, and to recommend this to the Assembly in their Report, at which point amendments to the contrary

may be given in without prior notice, the final decision on whether any Petition be so treated to lie with the General

Assembly. The General Assembly instruct the Clerks’ Office to amend Standing Order III.3 accordingly.

____________________

Act II – Act appointing a General Assessor to the Presbytery of Skye and Wester Ross

(No 2 of Class II)


The General Assembly appoint Mr James M. Fraser, elder at Kiltarlity, to be General Assessor to the Free Presbytery

of Skye and Wester Ross, his term of appointment to be until the next General Assembly.

____________________

Act III - Act appointing a General Assessor to the Northern Presbytery

(No 3 of Class II)


The General Assembly appoint Mr Norman Macleod, elder at Knockbain, to be General Assessor to the Northern

Presbytery, his term of appointment to be until the next General Assembly

____________________

Act IV - Act anent Loyal and Dutiful Address to Her Majesty the Queen

(No 4 of Class II)

Edinburgh, 19th May 2015


May it please Your Majesty,

We, the Ministers and Elders of the Free Church of Scotland met in General Assembly the 19th day of May 2015,

humbly offer Your Majesty the expression of our continued loyalty to Your Majesty’s Person and Throne and to the

Constitutional Monarchy of which you are the honoured Head and Representative.

We congratulate Your Majesty on the safe birth of your great granddaughter, Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, and

pray the Lord's blessing on her and all the Royal Family. We give thanks for the continued good health of Prince Philip.

We remember in our prayers His Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales, and the busy programme he undertakes both

nationally and internationally.

We express with profound gratitude to Almighty God, that this September, God willing, Your Majesty will become the

longest-reigning British monarch, a long and prosperous reign with which our nation has been blessed. We are thankful

that in a year of significant political events, including the Scottish referendum and the United Kingdom General

Election, your majesty remains the embodiment of stability.

The Free Church of Scotland is particularly grateful to Almighty God that at a time of considerable hostility towards

the Christian foundations of our society for Your Majesty's continued defence of the Faith by word and example.

We express our thankfulness for the continued service and sacrifice of your Majesty's Armed Forces. We acknowledge

the military service rendered by His Royal Highness, The Earl of Strathearn and His Royal Highness Prince Henry of

Wales. We are thankful for the safe withdrawal of Your Majesty's forces from Afghanistan and continue to pray for

the peace of that nation. We remember in our prayers all who have lost loved ones in various conflicts, and those who

have suffered injury in mind and body. We thank Almighty God for the work of Your Majesty's chaplains to the

Armed Forces, and the ministry of the Soldiers and Airmens Scripture Readers Association.

We pray for Your Majesty’s Parliaments in Westminster and Holyrood, especially remembering the Prime Minister

and First Minister and their Governments in the many responsibilities, at home and abroad, that devolve upon Your

Majesty’s servants.

We give thanks for Your Majesty’s continued recognition of the work and ministry throughout the United Kingdom of

the Free Church of Scotland by the annual visit to our General Assembly of Your Majesty’s Lord High Commissioner,

Lord Hope, to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.

Your Majesty, as ministers and elders of the Free Church of Scotland, it is our duty and privilege, regularly to uphold

your Majesty’s person, family and governments, before the throne of grace. We commit ourselves and our

congregations to do so in obedience to the exhortation of the Word of God, 'that supplications, prayers, intercessions

and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable

life in all godliness and reverence’.






Armed Forces, and the ministry of the Soldiers and Airmens Scripture Readers Association

____________________

Act V - Act anent Stipend and Related Salaries

(No 5 of Class II)


The General Assembly declare a stipend of £22,000 from 1st January 2015. They approve the continuance of the other

categories of salary that are paid at a fixed proportion of the stipend.

____________________

Act VI - Act anent Compliance and Risk Management

(No 6 of Class II)



1. The General Assembly instruct any congregation, committee or board to make early contact with the Church’s

Compliance Officer for advice when considering employing any person from outside the European Union, whether in a

paid or unpaid role and regardless of the length of stay.

2. The General Assembly, considering there is a need to raise the awareness of charity trustees at congregational

and central level of their responsibilities in relation to legal compliance, instruct the Board of Trustees to conduct a careful

assessment of priority areas and to develop guidance materials where appropriate.

3. The General Assembly note the development of a Conflicts of Interest Policy as a code for good governance at

committee and board level. They instruct all Presbyteries to review the policy with a view to developing and adopting a

similar policy to deal with potential conflicts at Presbytery level. They also support the Board’s view that there is a need

to develop procedures that would help address potential conflicts of interest that might arise during Assembly business

and to that end instruct the Assembly Clerks’ Office to undertake a review and to report to the 2016 Assembly through the

Board of Trustees.

4. The General Assembly note the Board’s ongoing work in assessing the risks facing the Church. They instruct the

Board to keep these risks under review.

5. The General Assembly instruct all Kirk Sessions to ensure that they comply with the requirements of the PVG

Scheme, seeking advice from the Church’s Compliance Officer. They note, with disappointment, that some ministers have

not yet applied for membership of the PVG Scheme and, where this is the case, instruct Kirk Sessions to ensure that steps

are taken to rectify the situation as soon as possible. They instruct the Board of Trustees to write to all Presbyteries asking

for confirmation that all ministers within their bounds are, or have applied to become, members of the PVG Scheme. They

empower the Commission of Assembly to take up and dispose of a Report from the Board on this matter.

6. The General Assembly instruct the Board to keep developments in relation to safeguarding matters under review

and to provide support to congregations in implementation of the Safeguarding Policy and Guidelines.

____________________

Act VII - Act anent Communications Strategy

(No 7 of Class II)


The General Assembly note the production of a communications strategy and endorse the aims of providing a compelling

Christian voice in Scottish public life and improving internal communications across the Church. They also support the

proposal to develop a pool of people from around the Church with the expertise to assist in the preparation of policy papers

across a range of contemporary issues. To this end, they instruct the Board to write to Kirk Sessions setting out the

disciplines to be covered and the competencies sought.

____________________

Act VIII - Act anent appointment of the Editor of The Record

(No 8 of Class II)


1. The General Assembly note with regret the resignation of Rev. Dr Malcolm Maclean as Editor of The Record.

They thank Dr Maclean for all his work during his tenure as Editor and are grateful to him for agreeing to continue in post

for the remainder of 2015.

2. The General Assembly support the Board’s recommendation that the Editorship of The Record should not be

restricted to ministers and elders of the Free Church of Scotland.

3. The General Assembly direct that the qualifications for appointment as Editor of The Record shall be as follows:

3.1 The Editor shall be a communicant member of the Free Church of Scotland and a person of some maturity in

Christian life.

3.2 The qualifications and experience of the candidate shall be matched as closely as possible to the remit for the

post as drawn up by the Board of Trustees.

3.3 The term of appointment will be for seven years, with eligibility for reappointment.


3.4 The Editor will be accountable to the Board of Trustees.

3.5 Remuneration and conditions of service shall be set by the Board of Trustees.

4. When a vacancy occurs, the following procedures will be followed:

4.1 The Secretary of the Board of Trustees will circulate all Presbyteries and Kirk Sessions of the Church setting out

the key elements of remit and requesting nominations for the post.

4.2 The Board of Trustees will arrange for an appropriate interview panel to meet with the short listed candidates

and make recommendations thereafter to the Board.

4.3 The Board will recommend its preferred candidate to the General Assembly. The General Assembly may accept

the Board’s recommendation, or if not, may only choose another candidate from those previously interviewed by the

Board.

5. The General Assembly repeal Act XXX, 2007, and also any other previous acts inconsistent with the foregoing.

____________________

Act IX - Act anent Review and Oversight of Magazines

(No 9 of Class II)


1. The General Assembly authorise the Board of Trustees to undertake a detailed review of the Church’s

publications, including The Record. They recognise that the time involved in conducting such a review has prevented the

nomination to this Assembly of a proposed candidate to take over as Editor of The Record. In light of this, they empower

the Commission of Assembly to take up and dispose of a Report from the Board on this topic with a view to the

appointment of a new Editor who will take up the position from the beginning of 2016.

2. The General Assembly approve the clarification of the arrangements for the oversight of the Church’s magazines

and to that end direct that the Board shall have oversight responsibility for The Record, Compass and Free. The General

Assembly hereby repeal all previous legislation pertaining to the oversight of the Church’s magazines.

____________________

Act X - Act anent fixed terms of appointment for Clerks to Committees, Boards,

Presbyteries and the General Assembly

(No 10 of Class II)


The General Assembly, noting the recommendation of the Board of Trustees that it is desirable to set fixed terms of

appointment for clerks of committees, boards, Presbyteries and the General Assembly, enact that, from May 2015, the

following shall apply:

1. Clerks of standing committees and boards of the General Assembly shall be appointed for an initial four year

term, renewable for a further term of four years. This provision shall not apply in the case of the Board of Trustees, the

Missions Board and the Seminary Board where secretarial services are provided by the Chief Executive Officer, the

Missions Co-ordinator and the Seminary Secretary respectively.

2. Clerks of Presbytery, the Principal Clerk of the General Assembly and the Assistant Clerk of the General

Assembly shall serve for a term of six years. A formal nominations process shall be conducted at least six months prior

to the completion of these initial six-year terms with incumbents being eligible for nomination for one further six-year

term. In the case of the appointment of Assembly Clerks, the nominations process shall be conducted by the Board of

Trustees. Presbyteries shall conduct their own nominations process for appointments of Presbytery Clerks.

3. In order that the terms of office of the Principal Clerk of Assembly and the Assistant Clerk of Assembly do

not expire at the same time, the General Assembly direct that the first term of six years for the Assistant Clerk shall

begin at the 2015 Assembly and the final term of six years for the Principal Clerk shall be taken as from the 2013

Assembly.

4. The General Assembly hereby repeal all previous legislation pertaining to the periods of appointment of the

clerks to committees, boards, Presbyteries and the General Assembly.


____________________

Act XI - Act authorising the appointment of a Missions Director

(No 11 of Class II)


The General Assembly, recognising that the part-time Missions Development Officer post is coming to an end and that

it is necessary to have a dedicated resource to support the work of the Missions Board in championing the work of

home and international mission throughout the Church, approve the creation of the post of Missions Director. They

instruct the Missions Board to undertake a recruitment process aimed at identifying a candidate with a demonstrable

passion for mission, proven pastoral experience and the requisite leadership qualities for the post. They ordain that an

appointment shall be made for an initial three-year term, renewable for a further three-year term subject to a full review

of the post being carried out by the Missions Board no later than six months prior to the end of the initial three-year

term.

____________________

Act XII - Act authorising the appointment of Deacons as members of the Board of Trustees

and other matters

(No 12 of Class II)


1. The General Assembly, noting the Board’s recommendations in respect of the possibility of Deacons serving

as members of standing committees and boards, hereby amend § 1.1.4 of Act VI, 2014 to read as follows:

1.1.4 Membership: Thirteen members in total including the Principal Clerk of Assembly ex officio.

The remaining membership shall comprise at least four ministers and at least six office bearers of whom up to

two might be deacons. Members shall be appointed by the General Assembly for a four year term, renewable

for one further term of four years. The General Assembly shall appoint one of the Board, who shall always be

an elder, as Chairman, for a four year term, renewable for one further term of four years. The quorum shall be

three trustees.

2. The General Assembly instruct the Board of Trustees to continue its consideration of areas in the work of

standing committees and boards where it might be appropriate for non-ordained members of the Church to serve in a

more formal capacity and to bring forward proposals in this regard to the 2016 General Assembly.

____________________

Act XIII - Act appointing a Missions Board to replace the Home and International Missions Boards

(No 13 of Class II)


The General Assembly, noting that no substantive issues have been identified that would prevent the appointment of a

unified Missions Board, apppoint a Missions Board to discharge the functions of the Home Missions Board and the

International Missions Board as presently constituted. The Board shall assume responsibility for developing appropriate

denominational partnerships at home and abroad, as well as partnerships with other organisations and agencies, in order

to enhance the Church’s ability to reach out with the Gospel. Membership of the Board shall be eight members in total

comprising six ministers and two elders appointed by the General Assembly for a four year term renewable for one

further term of four years. The Chairman shall be appointed from the membership of the Board by the General Assembly

for a four year term, renewable for one further term of four years. The quorum shall be three members of the Board.

____________________

Act XIV - Act authorising the Board of Trustees to deal with Petitions relating to Properties

held under the Model Trust Deed

(No 14 of Class II)


The General Assembly approve the recommendations of the Board of Trustees in relation to an expedited process for

dealing with petitions relating to properties held under the Model Trust Deed. They enact and ordain as follows:


1. The General Assembly, with reference to the Acts of the General Assembly hereinafter referred to and to the

title deeds of properties held in terms of the Model Trust Deed, hereby nominate and appoint the Board of Trustees of

the Free Church of Scotland, as successor to the General Trustees of the Free Church of Scotland in terms of Act XXIII,

2007 of the General Assembly (the said Board of Trustees being herein referred to whenever the expression “the Board

of Trustees” is used), as the body to whom the General Assembly hereby delegate (but subject to the terms hereof) all

the powers conferred upon or reserved to the General Assembly or the Commission of Assembly by (One) (a) Condition

SIXTHLY of the Model Trust Disposition (the said Model Trust Disposition being herein referred to whenever the

expression “the Model Trust Deed” is used), narrated within Act XVIII, 1844: Act Anent the Trust Deed, (b) Act VIII,

1863, (c) Act X, 1875, and (d) Act IV, 1889, all as the said four aforementioned Acts are amended by Act V, 1967, (e)

Act II, 1968, (f) Act II, 1982, and (g) Act XXXI, 2009 and (Two) the terms of the titles of heritable properties where

the trustees holding the same are, due to such terms, subject in any way to the regulation and direction of the General

Assembly or the Commission of Assembly as regards the disposal of the properties or the use of the proceeds of sale

thereof, so that the Board of Trustees may hereafter (subject to the provisions for review aftermentioned) be the sole

determining body in relation to the powers hereby delegated. For the avoidance of doubt, the powers hereby delegated

will include powers to revoke or modify any existing determinations made in Acts or deliverances by the General

Assembly or the Commission of Assembly in regard to the matters hereby delegated.

2. Without prejudice to section 5 hereof, all applications to the Board of Trustees for authority to sell or

otherwise dispose of any property where the trustees holding the same are, in terms of the title deeds, subject in any

way to the regulation and direction of the General Assembly or the Commission of Assembly as regards the disposal

thereof or the use of the proceeds of sale thereof, including, without prejudice to the foregoing generality, any property

held in terms of the Model Trust Deed under the powers hereby delegated shall proceed from the Deacons’ Court or

Finance Committee with the concurrence of the Kirk Session and of the Congregation, and shall have obtained the

sanction of the Presbytery of the bounds. Such applications shall state the reasons for the application and the purpose

to which it is desired that any proceeds of sale be applied.

3. The Board of Trustees will be bound, upon making a determination hereunder, to intimate such determination

forthwith by notice in writing to the Presbytery or Presbyteries concerned and also to the Deacons’ Court or Courts or

Finance Committee or Committees of the Congregation or Congregations directly affected; on receipt by the Clerk of

the Presbytery of the notice of the determination of the Board of Trustees, it will be his duty to give sufficient intimation

of the same to the next ordinary meeting of Presbytery thereafter; but notwithstanding the provisions of section 1 hereof,

any Presbytery concerned or any Deacons’ Court or Finance Committee having title or interest and who considers any

such determination by the Board of Trustees to be unreasonable may within two months of the date of the meeting of

Presbytery to which intimation has been made as aforesaid, lodge with the Clerks of Assembly a Petition to the General

Assembly for review of any such determination; provided always that in such circumstances a review will be competent

only if the Petition therefor is lodged timeously with the Clerks of Assembly and written intimation thereof given at

the same time to the Board of Trustees.

4. With reference to sections 2 and 3 hereof, in any case where, in the opinion of the Board of Trustees special

circumstances exist, including, without prejudice to that generality, the situation where the property is held for other

than congregational purposes or a Congregation has dissolved, an application may proceed otherwise than is provided

in the said section; and the whole provisions of the said section, including those relative to determination and right of

appeal, will have effect with regard to such application and determination, all with such modifications as may be

appropriate in the circumstances.

5. In the event of the Board of Trustees being of the opinion that any individual matter hereunder should be

determined by the General Assembly or the Commission of Assembly, they are empowered ex proprio motu to bring

such matter before the General Assembly or Commission of Assembly for determination.

6. Where any funds which are or may be subject to the terms of this Act are to be applied in the purchase of any

heritable property, the Custodier of Titles is directed to see the transaction carried into effect and also to see that the

title deeds of the new property are either (a) taken in the same terms as those of the old, or in terms of the Model Trust

Deed or (b) vested in the Board of Trustees.

7. Where the proceeds of sale of a property are not to be immediately applied to the purchase of another property,

they shall be deposited or invested, in the meantime, in the name of the Board of Trustees, for behoof of the

Congregation.

8. It is hereby declared that any determination made under the powers hereby delegated authorising the sale or

disposal of property will (unless acted upon) lapse after a period of five years from the date thereof.

9. Act VIII, 1963 and Act IV, 1889, both as amended by Act V, 1967, are hereby repealed.


10. Act XVIII, 1844 is from the date of this Act to be interpreted so that the consent of the General Assembly or

the Commission of Assembly, as delegated to the Board of Trustees in terms of this Act, shall be evidenced by a

certificate issued by the Custodier of Titles or the Secretary to the Board of Trustees.

____________________

XV - Act anent Sale of Properties and Release of Funds

(No 15 of Class II)


1. Applecross The General Assembly receive the petition from the Deacons’ Court of Lochcarron and

Applecross Free Church and grant its crave. They authorise the sale of the Free Church Manse at Applecross, the

transaction to be carried out under the supervision of the Church’s Law Agent, and direct that the proceeds of sale be

held by the General Trustees and that the congregation have access to these funds for the repair, maintenance and

development of existing congregational properties and for specific congregational projects subject to the approval of

the Board of Trustees.

2. Scalpay The General Assembly receive the petition from the Deacons’ Court of Scalpay Free Church

and grant its crave. They direct that the congregation be given access, upon application to the Chief Administrative

Officer, to the sum of £15,000 held by the Board of Trustees, for the purpose of replenishing the congregation’s savings.

3. Perth The General Assembly receive the petition from the Deacons’ Court of Knox Free Church, Perth,

and grant its crave. They authorise the congregation to have access to the surplus funds from the sale of the manse at

Pitlochry held by the Board of Trustees, upon application to the Chief Administrative Officer, to facilitate the taking

on of a Ministry Apprentice/Assistant to support the furtherance of the gospel in Perth.

4. Tarbert The General Assembly receive the petition from the Finance Committee of Lochgilphead

and Tarbert Free Church at Tarbert and grant its crave. They direct that the congregation have access to the sum of

£4,710.37 held by the Board of Trustees, upon application to the Chief Administrative Officer, for repairs to the church

building at Tarbert.

____________________

Act VI - Act appointing the Judicial Commission

(No 16 of Class II)


1. The General Assembly reappoint the Judicial Commission as follows:

Rev. A. J. Macdonald [4/2]

Rev. Professor J. R. McIntosh [4/2]

Mr J. MacRae [4/2]

Mr D. W. Matheson [4/2]

Rev. A. J. Howat [4/2]

Rev. A. Cowie [4/2]

Mr Evan MacDonald [4/2]

Mr Norman Smith [4/2]

Rev. Gordon Mair [4/2]

Rev. D. C. Meredith [4/2]

Mr Andrew Murchison [4/2]

Dr Gordon Fraser [4/2]

Rev. Duncan Macleod [4/2]

Rev. I. MacAskill [4/2]

Mr David Lipp [4/2]

Dr James Skinner [4/2]

Rev. John H. MacLean [4/2]

Rev. D. G. MacDonald [4/2]

Mr John A. Gillies [4/2]

Mr Robert MacDonald [4/2]

Rev. James Maciver [4/2]


Rev. Malcolm Macleod [4/2]

Mr Murdo Macleod (Lochs) [4/2]

Mr Murdo Murray (Stornoway) [4/2]

Chairman: Rev. A. J. MacDonald

Clerk: Principal Clerk

____________________

Act XVII - Act anent Synods

(No 17 of Class II)


1. The General Assembly remind Synod Clerks to ensure that the requirements of Act XXXIX, 2009, paragraphs

3-4 and 6-8, are implemented annually in accordance with the terms set out.

2. In accordance with the requirements of Act V, 2002, paragraph 2.1, the General Assembly appoint the

Northern Presbytery as Assessor Presbytery to the Western Synod; the Presbytery of Inverness, Lochaber and Ross as

Assessor Presbytery to the Southern Synod; and the Presbytery of Edinburgh and Perth as Assessor Presbytery to the

Northern Synod. The General Assembly remind the North American Synod that such cases as require either of the two

Presbyteries comprising that Synod to be at the bar of Synod should be forwarded directly to the General Assembly, or

Commission of Assembly, whichever is the more appropriate.

____________________

Act XVIII – Act appointing Assistant Clerk of Assembly

(No 18 of Class II)


The General Assembly appoint Rev. Malcolm Macleod to the post of Assistant Clerk of Assembly. His duties shall be

in accordance with the job description approved by this Assembly. His remuneration and conditions of service will be

in accordance with current practice, his duties to commence no later than the close of this Assembly.

____________________

Act XIX - Act granting Rev. Ruairidh Maclean a seat in the Presbytery of Glasgow and Argyll

(No 19 of Class II)


The General Assembly grant Rev. Ruairidh Maclean a seat in the Presbytery of Glasgow and Argyll whilst he resides

within the bounds of the Presbytery in connection with his current position as Scottish Deputation Secretary at Christian

Witness to Israel and on condition that he reports annually to the Presbytery of his ministry with CWI.

____________________

Act XX - Act terminating the Post of Development Officer

(No 20 of Class II)


The General Assembly thank Rev. Neil MacMillan, Development Officer, for his Report and for his faithful and

versatile work on behalf of the Home Missions Board over the whole period of his appointment. Noting the

recommendation of the Home Missions Board, they terminate the Development Officer’s post effective from 30th June

2015. They declare that Mr MacMillan’s name be added to the Register of Ministers without Charge, and they instruct

the Home Missions Board to pay Mr MacMillan at the current rate of stipend for a period of six months from the expiry

of his appointment or until his induction to another charge if earlier, according to the the terms of Act IX, Class II,

2012, Paragraph Missions, 1.8. The General Assembly repeal Act IX, Class II, 2012.

____________________

Act XXI - Act anent Future of Asian Outreach Work in Glasgow

(No 21 of Class II)



The General Assembly thank Rev. Duncan Peters and his wife Christine for their work in Asian Outreach, Glasgow.

They terminate his appointment under the terms of Act XII, Class II, 2010, Act XVI, Class II, 1999, and Act VII, Class

II, 1997, and repeal the said Acts. They appoint Rev. Duncan Peters to the work of Asian Outreach in Glasgow under

the general terms of Act XV, Class II, 2013 anent Church Planting and Evangelism and in association with the terms

of the Board’s Project Development Plan in order to secure a self-supporting Church Plant congregation under the

blessing of Almighty God. They declare the appointment to be continuous with his original induction to the work. They

instruct the Board in consultation with the Presbytery to appoint suitable members to an Advisory Committee to provide

day-to-day management for the work until such time as Assessor Elders have been appointed by the Presbytery of

Glasgow and Argyll to form a Kirk Session with a specific and committed interest to the development of cross-cultural

ministry. They further instruct the Board to make suitable arrangements for the funding of the work as required by Act

XV, Class II, 2013, Paragraph 4, and they direct the Board to report to the 2016 General Assembly on such arrangements

and on proposals for the overall financial strategy for the mission work of the Church. They declare that the funding of

the Asian Outreach work will continue according to the current arrangements until such time as the 2016 General

Assembly rules on revised funding arrangements in the context of the Board’s overall financial strategy for mission

work.

____________________

Act XXII - Act anent Training of Church Planters and Evangelists

(No 22 of Class II)


The General Assembly thank the Home Missions Board for work done liaising with the Board of Ministry to identify

suitably gifted church planters and evangelists who are eager to bring the good news to communities with little or no

gospel witness, and also liaising with the Edinburgh Theological Seminary Board to develop training suitable to church

planters and evangelists at the Seminary. They welcome the training initiatives carried out in association with

Porterbrook Scotland and under the guidance of Rev. Neil MacMillan. They instruct the Board to (1) continue its

communication with the Board of Ministry and the College Board in seeking to identify and train suitably gifted church

planters and evangelists; (2) co-operate with 20 Schemes to consider ways in which the Missions Board of the Free

Church of Scotland can support and initiate church planting or revitalisation works in those areas of greatest social need

in Scotland; and (3) report on its progress to the 2016 General Assembly.

____________________

Act XXIII - Act anent Ministerial Arrangements in the Redevelopment Charge

of Glenurquhart and Fort Augustus

(No 23 of Class II)


The General Assembly note the terms of Act XI, Class II, 2010 renewing the redevelopment status of the congregation

of Glenurquhart and Fort Augustus and declare that the current five-year term of redevelopment status be extended to

the date of the March 2016 Commission of Assembly. They empower the said Commission of Assembly to receive a

report from the Home Missions Board on future ministry at Glenurquhart and Fort Augustus as required by Paragraph

5 of Act XXXIV, Class II, 1988 anent Redevelopment Charges. They instruct the Presbytery of Inverness, Lochaber

and Ross to proceed without delay to prepare such a report so that it is in the hands of the Missions Board by 1st

December 2015.

____________________

Act XXIV - Act anent North-East Glasgow Team Ministry

(No 24 of Class II)


1. The General Assembly note the update on the Team Ministry in the North East area of Glasgow, and in

particular the ongoing vacancies in the Team. They thank the Presbytery of Glasgow and Argyll for its role in supporting

the Team Ministry arrangements. They also thank the current Team members for their ministry. They call on the Church

to continue in prayerful support of the work in the North East of Glasgow and that the ongoing vacancy in the Team

will be filled.

2. The General Assembly receive the Petition of the Presbytery of Glasgow and Argyll and grant its crave.

Noting the particular circumstances of this vacancy to which Act I, 2011, provides no remedy, they waive the

requirements of Act I, 2011, § 5.5 to the extent (1) in the event of the Team Ministry arrangement being terminated at


the end of the current five-year period, any minister appointed hereafter may then be appointed to one of the constituent

congregations in the Team Ministry for the remainder of the period of his terminable appointment subject to the

submission by the Presbytery of a suitable ministerial plan to the satisfaction of the Home Missions Board and a

guarantee that the congregation is able to meet the Direct Cost of Ministry, or that any shortfall will be met by the

Presbytery in terms of Act XIV, 2013; (2) that similarly any presbytery worker appointed shall be permitted to

complete his three–year term on the provision of similar funding guarantees to the satisfaction of the Home Missions

Board.

____________________

Act XXV - Act terminating the North Coast Team Ministry and Arrangements

for Ministers and constituent Congregations

(No 25 of Class II)


The General Assembly note the outcome of the review of North Coast Team Ministry completed by the Northern

Presbytery. They receive the Petition of the Presbytery and, noting the recommendation of the Home Missions Board,

they grant its crave. They terminate the North Coast Team Ministry arrangements with effect from 30th June 2015.

They thank all the members of the Team for their faithful ministry in the area since the Team’s inception. With effect

from the same date: (1) they terminate the appointment of Rev. Howard Stone to the North Coast Team Ministry

according to the requirements of Act I, Class I, 2011 anent Team Ministries. They declare that Castletown and

Community congregation be granted Alternative Ministerial Arrangements according to the provisions of Act XIII,

Class II, 2014 and according to the terms of the Ministry Development Plan agreed by the Presbytery, the congregation

and the Home Missions Board, and under the ministry of Rev. Howard Stone with his appointment continuous with his

previous induction to the charge; (2) they grant the congregation of Thurso and North Coast the status of a fully

sanctioned charge with permission to call a minister without restriction according to the provisions of Act I, Class I,

2013 anent Sustentation Fund. They terminate the appointment of Rev. Hugh Ferrier to the North Coast Team Ministry

according to the requirements of Act I, Class I, 2011 anent Team Ministries with his name being added to the Register

of Ministers without Charge, Eligible for Call; (3) they instruct the Northern Presbytery to proceed immediately to take

the necessary and appropriate steps to fill the vacancy in the fully sanctioned charge of Thurso and North Coast in order

to secure the continuity of Rev. Hugh Ferrier’s ministry there should that be the will of the congregation; (4) they grant

the congregation of Wick and Keiss permission to call a minister on a five-year terminable, renewable appointment

according to the provisions of Act I, Class I, 2013 anent Sustentation Fund with all the costs of ministry funded from

reserves held by the congregation and with the Ministry Levy payable from the date of induction of a minister; (5) they

also grant Helmsdale and Kinbrace permission to call a minister on a five-year terminable, renewable appointment

according to the provisions of Act I, Class I, 2013 anent Sustentation Fund, with the financial arrangements such that

the congregation is required to remit at least 100% of the stipend payable from the date of the induction of a minister

and should there be any shortfall from the requirements of the ministry and administration levies, the Northern

Presbytery shall seek to secure the balance via local support or by way of an application to the Development Fund; and

(6) they terminate the appointment of Mr James Morrison as Auxiliary Worker for the Team and direct that he be paid

at the rate of 80% of the current stipend until the end of December 2015. They instruct the Northern Presbytery to

provide pastoral support to Mr Morrison and to investigate the possibility of arriving at a local ministry arrangement in

Lybster whereby he could continue to serve the Church. The General Assembly repeal Act VIII, Class II, 2011.

____________________

Act XXVI - Act admitting the Congregation of Covenant Church, Newmilns,

as a Congregation of the Free Church of Scotland

(No 26 of Class II)


The General Assembly receive the Petition of the Presbytery of Glasgow and Argyll: Covenant Church, Newmilns and,

noting the recommendation of the Home Missions Board, grant its crave. They grant the body of Christians worshipping

in Covenant Church, Newmilns, the status of a fully sanctioned pastoral charge of the Free Church of Scotland with

immediate effect. They declare that the new congregation shall be known as Covenant Church, Newmilns (Free Church

of Scotland) within the Presbytery of Glasgow and Argyll. They instruct the Presbytery of Glasgow and Argyll to meet

in hunc effectum at Dowanvale Free Church, Glasgow on Tuesday 2nd June 2015 at 6.30 pm (1) to appoint general

assessor elders to the Kirk Session so that the congregation may proceed to an election and ordination of office-bearers

as soon as practically possible; and (2) to appoint a meeting with the congregation for a diet of public worship to

welcome them formally into the Presbytery. They direct the congregation to submit a Sustentation Fund Schedule to

the Home Missions Board with income-based confirmation of their ability to meet the full costs of ministry. They grant

authority to the newly established congregation thereafter to proceed to call a minister without restriction according to

the provisions of Act I, Class I, 2013 anent Sustentation Fund, Paragraph 3.3.


____________________

Act XXVI I- Act anent arrangements for the Congregation of Cobham Presbyterian Church

(No 27 of Class II)


The General Assembly receive the Petition of the Presbytery of Edinburgh and Perth: Ministry at Cobham and, noting

the recommendation of the Home Missions Board, grant its crave to the extent that they declare the congregation of

Cobham to be financially non-viable. They thank Rev. David D. Miller for his unstinting and faithful service during

his twelve years as minister there. They sever Rev. David D. Miller’s pastoral tie with the congregation on the said

date, adding his name to the Register of Ministers without Charge, and declare that he shall be eligible for six months

stipend from the date of termination according to the provisions of Act I, Class I, 2013 anent Sustentation Fund

paragraph 6.3.5, or until his induction to another charge, whichever is sooner. They instruct the Presbytery of Edinburgh

and Perth to complete the consultation process to satisfy the requirements of Act I, Class I, 2013, paragraphs 6.1.5 and

6.2.1 and to report on the completed consultation to the October 2015 Commission of Assembly. They further instruct

the Presbytery to meet as soon as possible after the rising of the Assembly in order to initiate the said process.

____________________

Act XXVIII - Act renewing permission for the Appointment of an Assistant Minister

for Dowanvale Free Church, Glasgow

(No 28 of Class II)


The General Assembly, noting the recommendation of the Home Missions Board, grant permission to the congregation

of Dowanvale to appoint an Assistant Minister in accordance with the terms of Act XVIII, Class II, 2013 anent

Assistantships, such permission to lapse at the General Assembly of 2017.

____________________

Act XXIX - Act renewing the appointment of Rev. Calum MacMillan

as Assistant minister of Rosskeen Free Church

(No 29 of Class II)


The General Assembly, noting the recommendation of the Home Missions Board, grant permission to the congregation

of Rosskeen to reappoint Rev. Calum Macmillan as Assistant Minister for a further three-year term in accordance with

the terms of Act XVIII, Class II, 2013 anent Assistantships.

____________________

Act XXX - Act authorising the Commission of Assembly to receive a Report from the Missions Board

regarding Ministerial Arrangements for Harris Free Church

(No 30 of Class II)


The General Assembly thank the Presbytery of the Western Isles for the ongoing consultation with the congregation of

Harris regarding future ministry in the congregation. They authorise the October 2015 Commission of Assembly to

receive a report from the Missions Board regarding arrangements for ministry at Harris.

____________________

Act XXXI - Act anent Reporting of Congregations to the General Assembly

(No 31 of Class II)


The General Assembly note that references to the percentage of stipend in paragraphs 3.10 and 3.11 of Act I, Class I,

2013 anent Sustentation Fund are now obsolete and declare that the Home Missions Board should only report on cases

where a review has been initiated in consultation with the Presbytery.

____________________


Act XXXII - Act anent Regulations for appointment of a Principal

of the Edinburgh Theological Seminary

(No 32 of Class II)


The General Assembly approve the following regulations for the appointment of Principal to Edinburgh Theological

Seminary:

1. The Resignation of the Principal

A Principal who is due to retire, or who intends to resign from his duties, shall intimate this fact, whenever possible, to

the Seminary Board by 1st May of the year which precedes his final year in office.

2. The Remit of the New Principal

On receiving notice of such intention to retire, or on a vacancy otherwise occurring in the Principalship, the Board shall

consider the remit of the Principal in the light of the most recent revision of the Five-year Plan and make any necessary

adjustments.

3. Nominations for the New Principal

The Seminary Board shall write to Presbyteries informing them of the impending vacancy in the office of Principal,

drawing attention to the terms of the Remit and the following requirements and asking for two nominations:

3.1. The remit of the Principal is to further the key mission objectives of the Seminary.

3.2. In fulfilment of these objectives, the Principal’s remit shall normally include co-ordination, administration,

supervision and part-time teaching internally, and representation, promotion of the Seminary and its mission objectives

externally.

3.3. All suitable candidates must subscribe to the whole doctrine contained in the Westminster Confession of Faith

and be ordained ministers in the Free Church of Scotland.

3.4. As the remit of the Principal will normally including part-time teaching and supervision within the

undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, the Seminary Board must ensure that the teaching of core subjects is

carried out by staff who are suitably qualified at postgraduate level, in terms of Act XXVI, 2014 and reformed in

doctrine, worship and practice.

3.5. The Principal is expected to uphold the witness, dignity and prestige of the Seminary without detriment to

good relations, and also takes note of any actions or proposed actions on the part of others that could either benefit or

prejudice the Seminary.

3.6. Any new additions to the remit arising from the review of the key mission objectives contained in the

Edinburgh Theology Seminary Vision Five-year Plan mentioned above.

4. Interviews for New Principal

4.1. The Seminary Board shall appoint an interview panel from its own members, and identify a suitable list of

candidates for interview from the nominations listed above, in addition to any new Seminary Board nominees.

4.2. Upon completion of all interviews the interviewing panel will make a recommendation to the Seminary Board.

If the Seminary Board agrees with the recommendation, the successful candidate will be informed as soon as possible

as to the Board’s decision and asked to accept the appointment within a timeframe set by the Board.

5. Appointment of New Principal

In the event of his willingness to take up the appointment, and if the appointee is already an ordained minister of the

Free Church of Scotland, he will be inducted to the position by the Presbytery of Edinburgh and Perth after following

a procedure on the analogy of a call to a pastoral charge, all parties retaining the right of Appeal or Dissent and

Complaint to the General Assembly. The new Principal will be granted a seat on the Presbytery of Edinburgh and Perth.


6. Remuneration

A full time Principal will be remunerated at a salary set by the Seminary Board in keeping with its budget constraints.

The total remuneration package of a Principal must not be less than that of a minister in a pastoral charge in the Free

Church of Scotland.

7. Terms of Appointment

The newly appointed Principal must sign Terms of Appointment as agreed by the Seminary Board.

8. Term of Office

The term of office for a Principal will normally be five years, renewable with the consent of the Principal and the

Seminary Board.

9. Call to Principal

In the event of a Principal of the Seminary accepting a Call to a pastoral charge, the Presbytery of Edinburgh and Perth

are empowered. to loose him from his charge. The Presbytery shall immediately inform the Seminary Board of such a

Call.

____________________

Act XXXIII - Act appointing Rev. Iver Martin as Principal of the Edinburgh Theological Seminary

(No 33 of Class II)


1. The General Assembly appoint Rev. Iver Martin, B.Sc., as Principal of Edinburgh Theological Seminary in

accordance with current legislation.

2. The General Assembly hereby release Mr Martin from his present pastoral charge at Stornoway Free Church

and instruct the Presbytery of Edinburgh and Perth to take the necessary steps to induct him to the post of Principal of

Edinburgh Theological Seminary not later than 15th August 2015, his relationship to his present charge to continue

until he be inducted to the post aforesaid.

3. The General Assembly grant Rev. Iver Martin a seat on the Presbytery of Edinburgh and Perth from the date

of his induction for as long as he remains Principal of Edinburgh Theological Seminary.

4. The General Assembly direct that in the event of the termination of Mr Martin’s appointment his name shall

be placed on the Register of Ministers Without Charge Eligible for Call and he shall receive his remuneration for a

period of six months from that date or until such time as

____________________

Act XXXIV - Act disjoining the former Congregation of Kilmorack and Strathglass from the Congregation of

Glenurquhart and Fort Augustus and uniting it with the Congregation of Kiltarlity and Kirkhill

(No 34 of Class II)


The General Assembly disjoin the former congregation of Kilmorack and Strathglass from Glen Urquhart and Fort

Augustus Free Church and unite the former congregation of Kilmorack and Strathglass with Kiltarlity and Kirkhill Free

Church, the united congregation to be known formally as Kiltarlity, Kirkhill and Beauly Free Church, with freedom to

use whatever name seems best for local publicity purposes, the united congregation having one Kirk Session and one

Deacons’ Court. The General Assembly repeal Act XI, 2008.

Furthermore they authorise the united congregation to reclaim, sell, lease or otherwise dispose of the property in Beauly

in the interests of the gospel and for the good of the congregation, any transaction to be carried out under the oversight

of the Free Church legal officer, and that any capital released and any interest payable upon the capital to be held by

the Trustees on behalf of the congregation, with the interest and capital being made available to the congregation on

due application for the provision of a manse or for other congregational purposes.

____________________


Act XXXV- Act authorising the Commission of Assembly to receive and dispose of Applications from

Ministers of other Denominations for admission to the Ministry of the Free Church of Scotland

(No 35 of Class II)

Edinburgh, 21st May 2015

The General Assembly, in view of the ongoing uncertainty of the church scene in Scotland at present, waive the

requirement of Act XXXV, 2005, that authority to grant admission to ministers of other denominations lies solely with

the General Assembly and empowers the Commission of Assembly at its meetings before the General Assembly of

2016, to receive and dispose of any such applications seeking admission to the Free Church ministry duly submitted

through Presbyteries and the Board of Ministry.

____________________

Act XXXVI - Act anent Applications for the Ministry of the Free Church of Scotland

and Ministry Apprenticeships

(No 36 of Class II)


1. The General Assembly remind Presbyteries to take great care when processing Applications for the Ministry

to ensure that referees have the knowledge to make judgements on an applicant’s character and skills, following up

references where necessary, and making a proper assessment of the applicant’s giftedness for teaching, preaching, inter-

personal skills, Christian character and temperament.

2. The General Assembly, noting the recommendation of the Board of Ministry on routes into ministry, declare

that it shall no longer be the normal requirement for applicants under the age of thirty to possess a qualification at

degree level prior to being accepted as a candidate for the ministry. The General Assembly direct the Board of Ministry

to advise each applicant individually on the best course of action to take preparatory to obtaining formal training for

the ministry.

3. The General Assembly instruct the Board of Ministry to consult the Missions Board and the Presbyteries of

the Church on appropriate routes into ministry and the varying types of ministry model that are biblical and necessary

for the health of the church.

4. The General Assembly note Appendix One in the Report of the Board of Ministry anent Ministry

Apprenticeship training and instruct the Board of Ministry to consult with Presbyteries and other Boards as appropriate

and to bring forward proposals on Ministry Apprenticeship training to the 2016 General Assembly.

____________________

Act XXXVII - Act anent Practical Training of Students

(No 37 of Class II)


The General Assembly approve of proposals to give candidates for the ministry increased opportunities to earn and

gain skills and experience in pastoral work through involvement in local churches during term time. The General

Assembly repeal the preamble to Act XX § 6, 1985 and Act XX § 6.II.10, 1985, relating to the number of times students

are permitted to preach and instruct the Board of Ministry to keep the frequency of student’s preaching under regular

review in conjunction with the Pastoral Theology department at Edinburgh Theological Seminary.

____________________

Act XXXVIII - Act anent Scripture Examinations and Presbyterial Oversight of Students

(No 38 of Class II)


The General Assembly approve of the general principles set out in Appendix Two to the Report of the Board of Ministry

anent Scripture Examinations and presbyterial oversight of candidates for the ministry, namely that an annual written

scripture examination shall be set and marked by the Board of Ministry, covering the whole Bible in three years, with

some biblical books set for private study and some set for written examination and that presbyteries shall examine

candidates orally on the doctrine of Shorter Catechism and the Westminster Confession of Faith and on books in

practical and pastoral theology recommended by the Board of Ministry according to a three year schedule. The General

Assembly enact and ordain that these shall be the regulations for Scripture Examinations and Presbytery oversight of

students from this General Assembly, and empower the Board of Ministry to modify and publish amended regulations


from time to time consistent with these general principles. Candidates already under the care of a Presbytery may elect

to follow the previous syllabus for Presbytery oversight for one year only, by arrangement with their Presbytery. The

General Assembly repeal Act XXXVI, 2011, Act XXVI 2003, Act XXIII, 2002, and any other Acts inconsistent with

this new Act.

____________________

Act XXXIX - Act anent Pastoral Care of Ministers and their Families

(No 39 of Class II)


The General Assembly note that a Panel of Pastoral Care has been appointed by the Board of Ministry, and is available

to give advice and support to ministers and their families. The General Assembly thank the members of the Panel (Rev.

Angus MacRae, Rev. James Maciver, Rev. Robert MacLeod, Rev. D. Iain MacDonald, Dr Martin Walker, Dr Colin

Mackay and Mrs Helen Mackay) and commend the Panel and Presbytery Pastoral Panels to the prayers of the Church.

The General Assembly instruct the Board of Ministry, through its Panel of Pastoral Care, to consult with Presbyteries

as to how a more effective and practical support can be provided for ministers and their families during periods of long-

term absence from work through ill health. They further instruct the Board to formulate a policy on the pastoral care

of ministers, on the completion of the said consultation, showing (1) the role of the Panel in relation to the Presbytery’s

Pastoral Support Committees; (2) a plan for the pastoral care of ministers and their families; (3) how such a plan will

be implemented; and (4) how the implementation of that plan will be monitored, assessed and reviewed.

____________________

Act XL - Act anent Licensing of Students

(No 40 of Class II)


The General Assembly, recognising that only those who are duly qualified should be licensed to preach the gospel,

ordain that:

1. A student applying for licence shall inform the Clerk of their presbytery and the clerk to the Board of Ministry,

normally by 31st December in the year prior to licence. No student should be taken on trials for licence unless the Clerk

to the Board of Ministry has circulated a minimum notice of three months to each presbytery.

2. If no objection is received from any presbytery before 30th April, or as a minimum within three months of

notice being given, the licensing presbytery shall be entitled to proceed.

3. The Presbytery shall fix a date for trials for license observing the following directions:

3.1 the Presbytery shall meet in private when discussing each stage in the process;

3.2 if the student has been resident outwith the bounds of the Presbytery they shall satisfy themselves that the

applicant is a proper person to be taken upon trials for licence;

3.3 no student shall be taken on trials for licence who is under twenty-one years of age;

3.4 no student shall be taken on trials for licence unless he has been a communicant member of the Free Church

of Scotland (or a sister church) for a minimum period of two years prior to the date of his being taken on trials, or unless

the presbytery has satisfied itself with the bona fides of the candidate and has obtained the agreement of the Board of

Ministry to proceed;

4. Any presbytery that objects to the licensing of an applicant shall be entitled to send representatives to state its

objections at the bar of the presbytery to which the student has applied. These objections shall be heard when the

presbytery is considering the motion to proceed to trials. If these representatives find themselves unable to acquiesce

in the presbytery’s decision they shall have the right to appeal; and such an appeal shall automatically sist procedure

until a final decision is pronounced by the superior court.

5. Before proceeding to trials a presbytery must have before it the following documents:


5.1 a completion certificate from the Senate of Edinburgh Theological Seminary indicating that the applicant has

satisfactorily completed his studies, including the Free Church Ministry Module; and that his conduct, so far as is

known to the Senate, is consistent with the high office he has in view;

5.2 a completion certificate from the Board of Ministry;

5.3 a copy of his Seminary Dissertation duly sustained. At its discretion the Presbytery may also ask for copies

of any essays or assignments submitted by the student as part of his programme of studies.

6. The Presbytery shall satisfy itself that the student is competent to preach and conduct public worship, and shall

normally arrange for the student to conduct public worship, including sermon, and shall appoint representatives to

attend and report on the competence of the student. If they report themselves dissatisfied, the presbytery shall resolve

to proceed no further and inform the student that they cannot grant him a licence in his present circumstances.

7. The General Assembly remind presbyteries to bear in mind that the student has already satisfied both the

Seminary Senate and the Board of Ministry as to his academic proficiency. Trials should accordingly normally consist

of oral examination, making appropriate use of the Dissertation and other written assignments submitted by the student.

Trials should seek to establish that the student is in a position honestly and intelligently to sign the Formula and is a

proper person to be eligible for a call to a charge. The trials should establish that:

7.1 the student has a well-informed grasp of the whole doctrine of the Confession of Faith and is prepared to

subscribe to it unreservedly;

7.2 he sincerely and intelligently adheres to the principles of the Free Church of Scotland;

7.3 he has a sound working knowledge of the Practice of the Free Church of Scotland and is able to play a part in

church courts;

7.4 he has an evangelistic vision and sense of mission such that “zeal for the honour of God, love to Jesus Christ,

and desire of saving souls” are “his great motive and chief inducement to enter the holy ministry”;

7.5 he has sufficient experience of human life, sufficient sympathy with his people and knowledge of practical

theology to enable him to lead, counsel, encourage and warn the people of God;

7.6 he is firmly committed to maintaining the unity and peace of the Church and does not pursue practices likely

to be divisive.

8. The student having gone through the trials for license, the Presbytery shall proceed as follows:

8.1 it shall take a careful and combined view of the trials;

8.2 if it forms the opinion that the student is not properly qualified to sign the Formula and to perform the duties

of a minister of the Gospel it shall not grant him a licence. Since the Presbytery are the sole hearers of the trials (and

therefore the only party competent to judge them) its decision shall be final. No member of the court shall have the

right of Dissent and Complaint; and neither the student nor any other party shall have the right of Appeal. The Moderator

of Presbytery shall, however, inform the student that he has the right to apply to be taken on trials again by this, or any

other, presbytery of the Church, subject to the provisions of Paragraph 3 (2) above;

8.3 if, upon review of the trials, the Presbytery is fully satisfied with the student, the Moderator shall inform him

and the presbytery shall record the decision in its Minutes;

8.4 the Presbytery shall then meet in open court;

8.5 the Presbytery shall then, or at a later public meeting of Presbytery, put to the student the Questions appointed

for Probationers by Act XII, 1846. Having given satisfactory answers, the presbytery shall require the student to

subscribe the Formula. No student shall be licensed will not give explicit and satisfactory answers and subscribe the

Formula;

8.6 the Moderator, in the name and by the authority of the presbytery, shall solemnly license the student as a

preacher of the Gospel; and the presbytery clerk shall issue him an extract of his Licence;


8.7 within one week the Clerk of Presbytery shall forward the name and address of the licentiate, with the date of

his Licence, to the Principal Clerk of the General Assembly.

9. The General Assembly repeal Act XX, 2001, and any Acts not consistent with this Act and declare that this

Act contains the whole of the Assembly’s directions relating to the Trials of Students and the Licensing of Probationers.

10. To ensure that this Act is observed, the General Assembly ordain: that it shall be printed among their other

printed Acts; that it shall be made available by itself and copies shall be placed on appropriate websites and lodged

with the Edinburgh Theological Seminary Senate and in the Seminary Library; and that a copy shall be transmitted

annually by the Clerk to the Board of Ministry, and at the commencement of the Seminary session, to every candidate

for the ministry who is entering his final year of study at Edinburgh Theological Seminary; and a copy shall likewise

be sent to presbytery clerks for the use of their respective courts and members.

____________________

Act XLI - Act anent Award of Grants to Overseas Workers

(No 41 of Class II)


The General Assembly urge the Missions Board to consider the provision of adequate financial support for Miss

Catriona Macdonald, a teacher in the Colegio San Andres, in 2016. They further instruct the Board to outline the

criteria for the awarding of annual grants to overseas workers and report to the General Assembly of 2016.

____________________

Act XLII - Act appointing the Commission of Assembly

(No 42 of Class II)


The General Assembly hereby appoint a Commission consisting of all the members of this General Assembly along

with Rev. Neil MacMillan named by the Moderator to be their Commission.

This Commission is appointed to meet at Edinburgh on Wednesday 7th October 2015 and Wednesday 2nd March 2016

at 7 o’clock in the evening, and at other times and places as may be required with power to choose their own Moderator.

The quorum shall be any twelve or more of their number, of whom four at least are always to be ministers.

The General Assembly empower the said Commission, or their quorum, to take up and dispose of any matter referred

to them by the General Assembly or arising out of any Act or finding of the Assembly in accordance with the

instructions given by the Assembly; to give attention to the interests of the Church in every respect to ensure that the

Church does not suffer or incur any prejudice which it is possible for their powers to prevent, as they will be answerable.

This however, shall not apply to particular affairs or processes before Presbyteries or Synods which have only a local

relevance and have no reference to the whole Church.

Furthermore, in view of unresolved matters concerning the Free Church Continuing, including legal processes, the

occupation of property, the retention of other asssets, and fozen bank accounts, the General Assembly empower the

Commission to take all necessary and appropriate steps in the interest of the Church in connection with these matters,

and declare that meetings of the Commission shall have the full powers of a General Assembly to deal with all such

matters which may arise, provided always that notice of proposals in terms of this empowerment shall be sent to

commissioners at least ten days before the Commission are to convene, this requirement not implying any curtailment

or amendment to such proposals.

Furthermore the said Commission are hereby authorised to receive and dispose of any applications duly submitted

through Presbyteries and the Board of Ministry from ministers of other denominations seeking admission to the Free

Church ministry.

Furthermore the Commission are authorised to receive and dispose of applications through Presbyteries from any

congregation wishing to join the Free Church of Scotland submitted in accordance with the procedures laid down by

the General Assembly.


Furthermore the Commission is empowered to receive and fully dispose of applications from preaching stations to be

raised to fully sanctioned charges submitted through the Missions Board; to link or unite two or more congregations

following upon a Report from the Missions Board; to appoint Ministers to overseas appointments and Foreign

Missionaries in the Mission Fields of the Church, to take up and dispose of a Report from the Board of Trustees on the

application of Ministers to become members of the PVG scheme; to take up and dispose of a Report from the Board

of Trustees concerning the Appointment of the Editor of The Record; to determine any matter relating to the sale of

property or release of funds which in the view of the Board of Trustees should be determined by the Commission and

brought by the Board ex proprio motu; to receive a Report from the Missions Board on arrangements for future ministry

at Glenurquhart and Fort Augustus; and to receive a Report from the Missions Board on arrangements for future

ministry at Harris; to receive a Report from the Missions Board in relation to Cobham Presbyterian Church; to receive

a Report from the Assembly Clerks anent the Presbytery in North America.

The Commission shall give such a lead as they are able on moral issues and provide advice and assistance to [Synods],

Presbyteries and Committees and Boards of the General Assembly upon their making application.

It shall not be competent for the Commission to become involved in matters other than those committed and referred

to them as above. All their proceedings shall be conducted in accordance with the Acts and Constitution of the Church,

avoiding anything which is contrary or prejudicial to such Acts and Constitution.

The General Assembly further declare that in all their proceedings they shall be accountable to and censurable by next

General Assembly as they may find reason.

This Commission shall remain in being until another Commission is appointed. All members are required to attend the

diets of the Commission.

____________________

Act XLIII - Act appointing next General Assembly

(No 43 of Class II)


The General Assembly appoint the next General Assembly to meet in Edinburgh on Monday 23rd May 2016 at 6

o’clock in the evening.

____________________

ACTS OF THE COMMISSSION OF ASSEMBLY

Act I – Act admitting Rev. David Macleod to the Ministry of the Free Church of Scotland

Edinburgh, 1st October 2014

1. The Commission of Assembly receive the application from Rev. David Macleod, and noting the

recommendation of the Board of Ministry, admit him as an ordained minister of the Free Church of Scotland under the

supervision of the Presbytery of Skye and Wester Ross.

2. The Commission of Assembly instruct the Presbytery of Skye and Wester Ross to make arrangements for Mr

Macleod to sign the Formula under their supervision and thereafter by extract minute to notify the Principal Clerk of

Assembly thereanent.

3. The Commission of Assembly, in accordance with Act XXXIV, 2014, direct the Board of Ministry, in lieu of

a revised Free Church ministry module currently in the process of development, to make suitable arrangements for Mr

Macleod to receive mentoring in Free Church principles and practice on his anticipated relocation from the Skye and

Wester Ross area.

4. The Commission of Assembly instruct the Principal Clerk of Assembly, upon notification that Mr Macleod

has signed the Formula, to place his name on the Register of Ministers eligible for Call.

5. The Commission of Assembly order the supporting documents to be held in retentis.

____________________


Act II – Act admitting Rev. Roderick Macrae to the Ministry of the Free Church of Scotland


1. The Commission of Assembly receive the application from Rev. Roderick Macrae, and noting the

recommendation of the Board of Ministry, admit him as an ordained minister of the Free Church of Scotland, with

effect from his signing the formula.

2. The Commission of Assembly instruct the Presbytery of Skye and Wester Ross to make arrangements for Mr

Macrae to sign the Formula under their supervision and thereafter by extract minute to notify the Principal Clerk of


3. The Commission of Assembly, in accordance with Act XXXIV, 2014, direct the Board of Ministry, in lieu of

a revised Free Church ministry module currently in the process of development, to make suitable arrangements for Mr

Macleod to receive mentoring in Free Church principles and practice and thereafter by extract minute to notify the

Principal Clerk of Assembly thereanent.

4. The Commission of Assembly instruct the Principal Clerk of Assembly, upon notification that Mr Macrae



____________________

Act III – Act admitting the Body of Christians recently disjoined from Tarbert Church of Scotland

to be a Congregation of the Free Church of Scotland


The Commission of Assembly, as authorised by Act XXXVII, 2014, receive the Petition of the Presbytery of the

Western Isles, and grant its crave. They establish the congregation as a fully sanctioned pastoral charge of the Free

Church of Scotland with immediate effect. They declare that the new congregation shall be known as North Harris Free

Church of Scotland within the Presbytery of the Western Isles. They instruct the Presbytery of the Western Isles, at the

first available opportunity, to appoint an Interim Moderator and General Assessor Elders so that the congregation may

proceed to an election and ordination of office-bearers as soon as practically possible. They direct the congregation to

submit a Sustentation Fund Schedule to the Home Missions Board with income-based confirmation of their ability to

meet the full costs of ministry. They grant authority to the newly established congregation thereafter, subject to the

approval of the Home Missions Board, to proceed to call a minister without restriction according to the provisions of

Act I, Class I, 2013 anent Sustentation Fund, Paragraph 3.3.

____________________

Act IV – Act admitting the congregation presently known as Stornoway High Fellowship



The Commission of Assembly, as authorised by Act XXXVII, 2014, receive the Petition of the Presbytery of the

Western Isles and grant its crave. Noting the recommendation of the Home Missions Board, they establish the body of

Christians presently worshipping under the name of Stornoway High Fellowship as a fully sanctioned pastoral charge

of the Free Church of Scotland with immediate effect. They declare that the new congregation shall be known as High

Free Church, Stornoway within the Presbytery of the Western Isles. They instruct the Presbytery of the Western Isles,

at the first available opportunity, to appoint an Interim Moderator and General Assessor Elders so that the congregation

may proceed to an election and ordination of office-bearers as soon as practically possible. They grant authority to the

newly established congregation thereafter to proceed to call a minister without restriction according to the provisions

of Act I, Class I, 2013 anent Sustentation Fund, Paragraph 3.3.

____________________


Act V – Act anent Negotiations with the North American Synod


1. The Commission of Assembly note the extract minute of the Synod of North America and thank the Synod

for the action taken.

2. The Commission of Assembly instruct the Synod to proceed with the disbursement of the funds in the Central

Fund of the Synod of the Free Church of Scotland (North America) in accordance with their proposals and report to the

Clerk of Assembly on completion of this.

3. The Commission of Assembly resolve to take no action with regard to the union of the Presbytery of Prince

Edward Island with the Presbytery of the Great Lakes and Western Canada until these financial transactions are

completed.

4. The Commission of Assembly instruct the Assembly Clerk to report on these matters, with recommendations,

to the next General Assembly.

___________________

Act VI – Act anent Sale of Property and Release of Funds


1. Portree Manse

1. The Commission of Assembly receive the Report of the Custodier of Titles and thank the Custodier.

2. The Commission of Assembly waive the requirements of Act V, 1967, in this instance, on the grounds that,

(a) the property was not in the possession of the congregation for the entire five-year permission lasted; (b) the Deacons’

Court had inadvertently, not deliberately, failed to take account of the terms of Act V, 1967, having been engaged in

attempts to recover the property during these years; (c) the minister Rev. Donald G. Macdonald was off work with

illness for a prolonged period during this time.

3. The Commission of Assembly homologate the actions of the Custodier of Titles in issuing his advice, the

Board of Trustees in upholding his advice and the Deacon’s Court of Portree Free Church in proceeding with the sale

of the manse at Portree despite permission to sell having lapsed.

4. The Commission of Assembly declare that their homologating of the action taken by Portree Free Church

Deacon’s Court be not seen as setting a precedent. They further call upon all Deacon’s Courts and Finance Committees

to take careful note of the terms of Act V, 1967, in all cases where permission to sell property has been granted by the

Assembly or Commission of Assembly. To this end they instruct the Assembly Clerk to issue a copy of the said Act

along with all extracts containing permission to sell property.

2 Pitlochry Manse The Commission of Assembly receive the Petition of the Deacons’ Court of Knox’s

Church, Perth, and waiving the stipulation that requests for permission to sell property which is not being replaced

require to be addressed to the General Assembly, authorise the sale of the manse at Pitlochry, the transaction be carried

out under supervision of the Church’s Compliance Officer, and the proceeds to be made available to the Deacons’ Court

for the renovation of the church and manse at Perth, any surplus to be held by the Board of Trustees on behoof of the

congregation.

3 Dingwall and Strathpeffer The Commission of the General Assembly receive the Petition of the

Deacons’ Court of Dingwall and Strathpeffer and grant its crave. They authorise the sale of the the manse at Dingwall

and renew authority to sell all or any part of the congregational property held in Strathpeffer, under the supervision of

the Church’s Compliance Officer, the proceeds to be held by the Trustees on behalf of the congregation, and the sum

lodged and any interest thereon to be made available upon due application for the purpose of purchasing land or

property, or for repairing or improving congregational property, or for general congregational purposes including the

funding of evangelistic or pastoral work carried out under the oversight of the Kirk Session.

4 Glenelg and Arnisdale The Commission of the General Assembly receive the Petition of the

Finance Committee of Glenelg and Arnisdale, Lochalsh and Glenshiel Free Church and grant its crave. They authorise


the sale of the Arnisdale and Glenshiel Church buildings and such proportion of the lands at Arnisdale held under trust

as the congregation deems appropriate, under the supervision of the Church’s Compliance Officer, the proceeds to be

held on behalf of the congregation by the Board of Trustees, to be made available upon application for the construction

of a new Church at Glenelg as well as to revitalise the congregation and employ a pastoral worker, or to do otherwise

as in their wisdom may seem best.

____________________

Act VII – Act admitting Rev. Aonghas Iain Macdonald as a Minister

of the Free Church of Scotland

Edinburgh, 4th March 2015

1. The Commission of Assembly receive the application from Rev. Aonghas Iain Macdonald, and noting the


effect from his signing the Formula.

2. The Commission of Assembly instruct the Presbytery of Inverness, Lochaber and Ross to make arrangements

for Mr Macdonald to sign the Formula under their supervision and thereafter by extract to notify the Principal Clerk of


3. The Commission of Assembly instruct the Principal Clerk of Assembly, upon notification that Mr Macdonald

has signed the Formula, to place his name on the Roll of Resigned and Retired Ministers.


____________________

Act VIII – Act admitting Rev. Andrew McMillan as a Minister of the Free Church of Scotland


1. The Commission of Assembly receive the application from Rev. Andrew McMillan, and noting the



2. The Commission of Assembly instruct the Presbytery of Inverness, Lochaber and Ross to make arrangements

for Mr McMillan to sign the Formula under their supervision and thereafter by extract to notify the Principal Clerk of


3. The Commission of Assembly instruct the Principal Clerk of Assembly, upon notification that Mr McMillan


4. The Commission of Assembly instruct Mr McMillan to avail himself of Free Church Practice and Principles

when the course becomes available online.


____________________

Act IX – Act admitting Rev. Athole Rennie as a Minister of the Free Church of Scotland


1. The Commission of Assembly receive the application from Rev. Athole Rennie, and noting the




2. The Commission of Assembly instruct the Presbytery of Edinburgh and Perth to make arrangements for Mr

Rennie to sign the Formula under their supervision and thereafter by extract to notify the Principal Clerk of Assembly

thereanent.

3. The Commission of Assembly instruct the Principal Clerk of Assembly, upon notification that Mr Rennie has

signed the Formula, to place his name on the Register of Ministers eligible for Call.

4. The Commission of Assembly instruct Mr Rennie to avail himself of Free Church Practice and Principles

when the course becomes available online.


____________________

Act X - Act admitting the Congregation of Grace Church, Leith,



The Commission of Assembly, as authorised by Act XXXVII, 2014, receive the Petition of the Presbytery of Edinburgh

and Perth and grant its crave. They establish the Congregation of Grace Church, Leith, as a fully sanctioned charge of

the Free Church of Scotland with immediate effect. They declare that the new congregation shall be known as Grace

Church within the Presbytery of Edinburgh and Perth under the ministry of Rev. Athole Rennie with the effect from

the date of his signing the formula, and from that date grant him a seat in the Presbytery of Edinburgh and Perth. They

declare that Act II, 1991, shall not apply in this instance for the duration of his ministry. They instruct the Presbytery

of Edinburgh and Perth at the earliest opportunity (1) to appoint assessor elders to the Kirk Session so that the

congregation may proceed to an election and ordination of officebearers as soon as practically possible; and (2) to meet

with the congregation for a diet of public worship with a view to welcoming them formally into the Presbytery and

recognising the ministry of Rev. Athole Rennie.

____________________

Act XI – Act admitting the Congregation of Christ Church, Edinburgh,



The Commission of Assembly, as authorised by Act XXXVII, 2014, receive the Petition of the Presbytery of Edinburgh

and Perth, and noting the recommendation of the Home Missions Board, establish the body of Christians worshipping

in Christ Church (Edinburgh) as a fully sanctioned pastoral charge of the Free Church of Scotland with immediate

effect. They declare that the new congregation shall be known as Christ Church (Edinburgh) within the Presbytery of

Edinburgh and Perth under the present ministry of Rev. David Court and grant Mr Court a seat in the Presbytery of

Edinburgh and Perth. They instruct the Presbytery of Edinburgh and Perth at the earliest available opportunity (1) to

appoint general assessor elders to the Kirk Session so that the congregation may proceed to an election and ordination

of office-bearers as soon as practically possible; and (2) to meet with the congregation for a diet of public worship with

a view to welcoming them formally into the Presbytery and recognising the ministry of Rev. David Court.

____________________

Act XII – Act admitting the Congregation of Hope Church (Blackwood and Kirkmuirhill)



The Commission of Assembly, as authorised by Act XXXVII, 2014, receive the Petition of the Presbytery of Glasgow

and Argyll and grant its crave. Noting the recommendation of the Home Missions Board, they establish the body of

Christians worshipping in Hope Church (Blackwood and Kirkmuirhill) as a fully sanctioned pastoral charge of the Free

Church of Scotland with immediate effect. They declare that the new congregation shall be known as Hope Church

(Blackwood and Kirkmuirhill) Free Church of Scotland within the Presbytery of Glasgow and Argyll under the present

ministry of Rev. Ian Watson, and grant Mr Watson a seat in the Presbytery of Glasgow and Argyll. They instruct the

Presbytery of Glasgow and Argyll to meet at the earliest available opportunity (1) to appoint general assessor elders to


the Kirk Session so that the congregation may proceed to an election and ordination of office-bearers as soon as

practically possible; and (2) to appoint a meeting with the congregation for a diet of public worship with a view to

welcoming them formally into the Presbytery and recognising the ministry of Rev. Ian Watson.

____________________

Act XIII – Act placing the Name of the Rev. Benjamin van Rensberg on the

Register of Ministers eligible for Call


The Commission of Assembly instruct the Clerk of Assembly to add Rev. Benjamin van Rensberg’s name to the

Register of Ministers eligible for Call with immediate effect and to inform the International Missions Board

accordingly.

____________________

Act XIV – Act anent Sale of Property


Kinloch Manse - The Commission of Assembly authorise the sale of the Manse of the Kinloch congregation under the

supervision of the Church’s Compliance Officer, and direct that the proceeds of sale be held by the Board of Trustees

to be made available to the congregation for the purchase of a suitable manse or the erection of a new one, with any

surplus to be used towards the reduction of the existing loan debt.

____________________

DRAFT ACTS SENT DOWN UNDER THE BARRIER ACT

Act I – Act anent Representation of Presbyteries


The General Assembly, in order to ensure the greatest possible efficiency and equity in the election by Presbyteries of

their Commissioners to the General Assembly, hereby pass the following Overture to Presbyteries under the terms of

the Barrier Act:

The General Assembly, with the consent of Presbyteries enact and ordain as follows:

1. Each Presbytery of the Church shall be represented in the General Assembly by a number of the Ministers and

occupants of appointments as Course Organisers in Edinburgh Theological Seminary within the Presbytery, including

Assessors and Ministers without charge who have been duly granted seats in the Presbytery, equal to but not greater

than the number of Congregations and academic appointments as Course Organisers within the bounds of the Presbytery

as set at any time by the General Assembly, together with an equal number of Elders who are bona fide acting Elders

of Congregations of the Free Church of Scotland in the same or other Presbyteries, and who shall have signed the

Formula.

2. The term Congregation in this Act shall mean a body of Members of the Free Church of Scotland which is

under the care and oversight of its own Kirk Session, including Kirk Sessions requiring Assessor Elders, and holding

at least one service of public worship every Lord’s Day. A consolidated Charge, if and when there shall be two or more

Kirk Sessions, shall count as one Congregation for the purpose of Assembly representation. The provisions of Act XIII,

1863, “Declaratory Act anent Preaching Stations, Kirk Sessions therein, and Position of Elders in such Kirk Sessions”,

shall continue to apply.

3. The proportion of qualifying Congregations and academic appointments shall be set by the General Assembly

from time to time without recourse to the Barrier Act through the report of the Board of Trustees.

4. The General Assembly ordain that the proportion be set at 60% of Congregations as these are defined in 2

above, with effect from the General Assembly of 2017, subject to the finding of the 2016 Assembly anent this Overture.


5. The General Assembly repeal Act I, Class I, 1942.

____________________

Act II – Act authorising the Appointment of Additional Elders to the General Assembly in Cases where Elders

are unable to attend for the whole Assembly.


The General Assembly, in order to ensure the greatest possible efficiency and equity in the election by Presbyteries of

their Commissioners to the General Assembly, hereby pass the following Overture to Presbyteries under the terms of

the Barrier Act.


1. In order to reduce the problem of a shortage of available elders, Presbyteries shall be authorised to elect elders

who cannot attend for the duration of the Assembly, in accordance with paragraph 2 below.

2. In electing its Commissioners a Presbytery shall ascertain which days of the Assembly elders it wishes to

commission are able to attend. If a Presbytery resolves to elect elders unable to commit to the whole of the Assembly,

the Presbytery shall be free to appoint the required number in addition to those attending for the duration to make up

the total allocation for each day of the Assembly. The Presbytery shall record this information in their minutes and on

the Form of Commission produced by the Assembly Clerks’ Office. The total number of elders allocated to each

Presbytery shall not be exceeded on any day or sederunt of the Assembly. Presbyteries shall make every effort to ensure

that the majority of their elected Commissioners are able to attend for the duration of the Assembly. Presbyteries shall

not commission any elder for less than one whole day of the Assembly’s meeting. Presbyteries shall ensure that the

number of commissioners allocated to them shall not be exceeded at any meetings of the Commission of Assembly.

3. The stipulation contained in current Standing Order 5.8.2 shall continue to be observed, namely, “That on a

division being called for the Clerk shall announce that no member ought to vote against a motion or amendment who

has not been in attendance during the discussion thereof.”

____________________


Monday 18th May, Evening Session 1

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

MINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS

OF THE

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE FREE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND

HOLDEN AT EDINBURGH 18TH MAY MMXV

At Edinburgh and within the Free Assembly Hall

the 18th day of May 2015 years at 6 o’clock evening

1 Assembly Constituted Which day the Ministers and Elders, Commissioners from Presbyteries

appointed to meet this day, were convened, and after sermon by Rev. David D. Miller, Moderator of last General

Assembly, who preached from Exodus 34, v14: ‘Do not worship any other god, for the Lord whose name is

Jealous, is a jealous God’, and the General Assembly was duly constituted.

2 Roll of Assembly The names of Commissioners, having been presented in a printed list and

acknowledged as correct, were allowed to stand as follows:

ROLL OF GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2015

WESTERN SYNOD

Presbytery of Skye and Wester Ross

Ministers Elders

Rev. John H. Maclean, Trotternish Mr Ian MacDonald,

Rev. Roderick M. Rankin, Plockton and Kyle Mr Martin Cunningham,

Rev. Alasdair Macleod, Lochbroom and Coigach Mr Calum Nicolson

Rev. Donald G. Macdonald, Portree Mr Donald J. Stewart,

Presbytery of the Western Isles

Ministers Elders

Rev. Malcolm Macdonald, Callanish Mr Angus Macdonald,

Rev. Malcolm Macleod, Shawbost Mr Iain Macsween,

Rev. James Maciver, Knock Dr Neil Galbraith,

Rev. Ewen Matheson, Cross Mr Calum Mackinnon,

Rev. Murdo Campbell, Barvas Mr Donald Morrison

Rev. Thomas Davis, Carloway Mr Norman Macleod,

Rev. David Macleod, North Harris Mr Malcolm Campbell,

Presbytery of Inverness, Lochaber and Ross

Ministers Elders

Rev. David Kirk, Assistant, Kilmallie and

Ardnamurchan

Mr William MacLelland,

Rev. Joe Barnard, Kiltarlity and Kirkhill Mr James Fraser,

Rev. Dr Malcolm Maclean, Greyfriars-Stratherrick Mr Sandy Finlay,

Rev. Dr John Ross, Glenurquhart and Fort Augustus Mr Jim Chalmers,

Rev. Murdo Macleod, Assistant, Smithton-Culloden

and Nairn

Mr Donald Macrae,



______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Rev. Angus MacRae, Dingwall and Strathpeffer Mr Sandy McLure,

Northern Presbytery

Ministers Elders

Rev. Douglas MacKeddie, Retired Mr John Laing,

Rev. Dr Howard Stone, North Team Ministry Mr John Ross,

Rev Iain Macaskill, Rosskeen Mr Donald Stirling,

Rev Hugh Ferrier, North Team Ministry Mr Hector Maclennan,

SOUTHERN SYNOD

Presbytery of Edinburgh and Perth

Ministers Elders

Rev. Professor John R. McIntosh, Edinburgh

Theological Seminary

Mr Hamish J. Sneddon,

Rev. Paul Clarke, St Andrews Mr Hugh Henderson,

Rev. Jeremy Ross, Dunfermline Mr Alastair Oliver,

Rev. David A. Robertson, Dundee Mr R. Proudlove,

Rev. David Randall, Falkirk Dr John Morrison,

Rev. David D. Miller, London Cobham Mr Donald W. Matheson

Presbytery of Glasgow and Argyll

Ministers Elders

Rev. Angus. J. Howat, Retired Mr Colin Macdonald,

Rev. Kenneth Boyd, Govanhill Mr Rod Morrison,

Rev. Seoras McGillivray, Asian Ministry Mr Calum Ferguson,

Rev. Norman Mackay, Govan Mr Evan Macdonald

Rev. Ivor Macdonald, North-East Glasgow Team Mr John Mackenzie,

Rev. Alex Cowie, Partick Mr Mark Macleod,

Rev. Robert Macleod, Lochgilphead and Tarbert Mr G. Brotherston,

Rev. Iain Thomson, East Kilbride Dr George Gray,

SYNOD OF NORTH AMERICA

Presbytery of Prince Edward Island

Ministers Elders

Rev. Kent Compton, Western Charge Peter Aiken, Prince Edward Island

Presbytery of the Great Lakes and Western Canada

Ministers Elders

3 Thanks It was moved, seconded and agreed that:

The General Assembly record their thanks to the Retiring Moderator for his sermon and for his services in the

chair.

4 Election of Moderator The General Assembly then proceeded to elect a Moderator, when it was

moved, seconded and agreed that the Assembly appoint Rev. David A. Robertson, minister at St Peter’s Free

Church, Dundee to be their Moderator. Intimation of his appointment was then made to Mr Robertson, who,

having being introduced and welcomed, took the Chair and thanked the Assembly.



______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5 Presentation of Bible to the Moderator On behalf of the Scottish Bible Society, Ms Elaine Duncan

presented a Bible to the Moderator.

6 Standing Orders It was moved, seconded and agreed that:

The Standing Orders as in the print be taken as the Standing Orders of this Assembly.

7 Committees to Expedite Business The General Assembly then proceeded to appoint

Committees to expedite the business of the House.

Finding It was moved, seconded and agreed that:

7.1 The General Assembly appoint a Committee to prepare a Loyal and Dutiful Address to Her Majesty

the Queen, consisting of: Messrs. David A. Robertson, David D. Miller, John H. Maclean, John S. Ross, Douglas

MacKeddie, John R. McIntosh, ministers; with Messrs. Neil Galbraith, Sandy Finlay, John Morrison, Evan

Macdonald, Ian Macdonald, elders, with Rev. David Robertson as Convener.

7.2 The General Assembly appoint a Committee to visit Presbytery, Synod and Committee Records,

consisting of: Messrs. Ewen Matheson, Roderick M. Rankin, Donald G. Macdonald, Malcolm Macdonald,

Thomas Davis, Joe Barnard, Murdo Macleod, Iain Macaskill, Hugh Ferrier, David Randall, Kenneth Boyd, Ian

Watson, ministers; with Messrs. Calum Nicolson, Angus Macdonald, Donald Morrison, Norman Macleod,

William MacLelland, Jim Chalmers, Sandy McLure, John Laing, Hugh Henderson, Calum Ferguson, John

Mackenzie, George Gray, elders, with Rev. Ewen Matheson as Convener.

7.3 The General Assembly appoint a Committee to prepare a Minute on Deceased Ministers and Elders,

consisting of: Messrs. Alex Cowie, Murdo Campbell, David Kirk, Howard Stone, Jeremy Ross, ministers; with

Messrs. Donald J. Stewart, Iain Macsween, Donald Macrae, Hector Maclennan, Colin MacDonald, elders, with

Rev. Alex Cowie as Convener.

8 Representative from other Churches The following was introduced to the Moderator and

welcomed to the Assembly:

Rev. Martin Keane United Free Church of Scotland

9 Assembly Clerks’ Department The General Assembly then called for the Report of the Assembly

Clerks, which being printed and in the hands of members, was referred to by the Principal Clerk, who addressed

the Assembly thereanent.


(A) GENERAL

1. The General Assembly receive and adopt the report of the Clerks’ Office and thank the Clerks.

2. The General Assembly appoint a Business Committee of Assembly, comprising the Principal Clerk, the

Assistant Clerk and the Clerks of all the home Presbyteries. The Committee shall meet at a convenient point not

later than 15th April annually, to examine all papers in the hands of the Principal Clerk due to come before the

Assembly. The Committee shall appoint its own Convener annually at its April meeting and the Principal Clerk

shall act as Clerk to the Committee. The Convener shall be responsible for introducing the Lord High

Commissioner to the Receiving Party and to the Moderator, as well as delegates and others to the Moderator, apart

from the children receiving Youth Awards. The Committee shall present its Report to the Assembly at the first

sederunt. The Report shall incorporate a Report from the Clerks’ Office and shall be bound with all the other

Reports to be distributed in advance of the Assembly.

3. The General Assembly authorise the Business Committee, or Clerks’ Office should the Committee not

be appointed, to designate as routine those Petitions they consider ought to be in this category, and to recommend

this to the Assembly in their Report, at which point amendments to the contrary may be given in without prior

notice, the final decision on whether any Petition be so treated to lie with the General Assembly. The General

Assembly instruct the Clerks’ Office to amend Standing Order III.3 accordingly.



______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. The General Assembly note the outstanding forms of commission and Elders’ Certificates and remind

Commissioners that no Commissioner may take his seat in the Assembly without a duly completed form of

Commission from Presbyteries and also, in the case of all commissioned Elders, a duly completed Certificate from

Kirk Sessions verifying that they are bona fide acting Elders.

5. The General Assembly approve the draft Assembly Programme distributed with the Assembly Reports.

6. The General Assembly note the arrangements made for the Moderator’s Reception at the Edinburgh City

Chambers and thanks Councillor Jeremy Balfour for his assistance with this.

7. The General Assembly welcome the visit of the Lord High Commissioner, the Rt. Hon. Lord Hope of

Craighead, to the Assembly and note that the visit is due to take place on Thursday 22nd May at 12.00 noon.

8. The General Assembly commend to Commissioners the booklet on Assembly Procedure.

9. The General Assembly remind all speakers the need for care over what is said during live-streamed

sessions of the Assembly.

10. The General Assembly call Commissioners to note Standing Order V.3.4 relating to when amendments

are due to be given in.

11. The General Assembly welcome the appointment of Mr Andrew Longwe as Assembly Officer for the

duration of the Assembly and thank him for his willingness to serve in this capacity.

12. The General Assembly thank Rev. William M. Mackay for agreeing to continue as Hospitality Co-

ordinator.

13. The General Assembly thank Mrs Sharon Fraser for her contribution to producing the Assembly Reports

and for making arrangements for Assembly delegates. They thank the Offices staff for the processing of items

relating to the Assembly, and all involved in the supervision of the sound system and related technology. They

also thank the students and others on door duty and those who clean the Assembly Hall.

14. The General Assembly appoint the Assembly Clerks to meet with commissioners from the North

American Presbyteries to ascertain the current stage of proceedings anent the directions given by the 2014 General

Assembly and that the Clerks report back at a suitable point prior to the rising of the Assembly.

(B) ASSEMBLY PAPERS

The General Assembly agree to pass in to the Assembly the following papers:

1. Letters (a) The letter from the Christian Reformed Churches in the Netherlands; (b) the letter

from the Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia; and (c) the letter from the Orthodox Presbyterian Church.

2. Petitions (a) The Petition from the Presbytery of Skye and Wester Ross; (b) the Petition from

the Northern Presbytery; (c) the Petition from the Presbytery of Inverness, Lochaber and Ross; (d) the Petition

from Rev. Ruairidh Maclean; and (e) the Petition from Rev Gordon Mair. They declare that Petitions (a) and (b)

above be classed as routine Petitions to be disposed of through section (D) below. They direct that Petitions (c),

(d) and (e) above be taken up at an appropriate time in the Assembly’s business.

3. Supplementary Reports (a) The Supplementary Report of the Seminary Board; and (b) the

Supplementary Report of the Board of Trustees. They direct that both these Reports be taken up and disposed of

at an appropriate time in the Assembly’s programme.

(C) LETTERS

1. The General Assembly receive the letter from the Christian Reformed Churches in the Netherlands and

thank them for their greetings. They instruct the Principal Clerk to acknowledge the letter and reciprocate their

greetings.

2. The General Assembly receive the letter from the Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia and thank

them for their greetings. They note that the Moderator of the last General Assembly, Rev. David D. Miller,



______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

conveyed greetings from the Free Church of Scotland when he visited the PCEA Synod meeting held 5th -7th

May 2015. They thank Mr Miller for his visit.

3. The General Assembly receive the letter from the Orthodox Presbyterian Church and thank them for their

greetings. They instruct the Principal Clerk to acknowledge the letter and reciprocate their greetings. They also

agree to appoint a delegate to attend the 2016 General Assembly of Orthodox Presbyterian Church as that

denomination commemorates the 80th anniversary of their founding.

(D) PETITIONS

1. The General Assembly, waiving Standing Order III.3, receive the Petition of the Presbytery of Skye and

Wester Ross and grant its crave. They appoint Mr James M. Fraser, elder at Kiltarlity, to be General Assessor to

the Free Presbytery of Skye and Wester Ross, his term of appointment to be until the next General Assembly.

2. The General Assembly, waiving Standing Order III.3, receive the Petition of the Northern Presbytery

and grant its crave. They appoint Mr Norman Macleod, elder at Knockbain, to be General Assessor to the Northern

Presbytery, his term of appointment to be until the next General Assembly.

10 Adjournment The General Assembly did then adjourn to meet again in this Hall on Tuesday at 10.00

o’clock forenoon, whereof public intimation having being given, the sederunt was closed with prayer.


Tuesday 19th May, Forenoon Session 2

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

At Edinburgh and within the Free Assembly Hall,

the 19th day of May 2015 years at 10 o’clock forenoon

1 Assembly Constituted The General Assembly did again convene and was constituted with

devotional exercises.

2 Moderator’s Address The Moderator then addressed the Assembly on the theme ‘Scotland

turned upside down.’

3 Minutes The minutes of yesterday’s Sederunt were read and approved.

4 Loyal and Dutiful Address The General Assembly called for the Report of the Committee appointed

to prepare a Loyal and Dutiful Address to Her Majesty the Queen, which was given in by the Moderator. The Report

was adopted and in accordance therewith, the address as underwritten was agreed to and appointed to be duly signed

and transmitted to the Secretary of State for Scotland, with a letter from the Clerk.

The Loyal and Dutiful Address

of the General Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland

May it please Your Majesty,

We, the Ministers and Elders of the Free Church of Scotland met in General Assembly the 19th day of May 2015,

humbly offer Your Majesty the expression of our continued loyalty to Your Majesty’s Person and Throne and to the

Constitutional Monarchy of which you are the honoured Head and Representative.

We congratulate Your Majesty on the safe birth of your great granddaughter, Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, and

pray the Lord's blessing on her and all the Royal Family. We give thanks for the continued good health of Prince Philip.

We remember in our prayers His Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales, and the busy programme he undertakes both

nationally and internationally.

We express with profound gratitude to Almighty God, that this September, God willing, Your Majesty will become the

longest-reigning British monarch, a long and prosperous reign with which our nation has been blessed. We are thankful

that in a year of significant political events, including the Scottish referendum and the United Kingdom General

Election, your majesty remains the embodiment of stability.

The Free Church of Scotland is particularly grateful to Almighty God that at a time of considerable hostility towards

the Christian foundations of our society for Your Majesty's continued defence of the Faith by word and example.


the military service rendered by His Royal Highness The Earl of Strathearn and His Royal Highness Prince Henry of




Armed Forces, and the ministry of the Soldiers and Airmens Scripture Readers Association.

We pray for Your Majesty’s Parliaments in Westminster and Holyrood, especially remembering the Prime Minister

and First Minister and their Governments in the many responsibilities, at home and abroad, that devolve upon Your

Majesty’s servants.

We give thanks for Your Majesty’s continued recognition of the work and ministry throughout the United Kingdom of

the Free Church of Scotland by the annual visit to our General Assembly of Your Majesty’s Lord High Commissioner,

Lord Hope, to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.

Your Majesty, as ministers and elders of the Free Church of Scotland, it is our duty and privilege, regularly to uphold

your Majesty’s person, family and governments, before the throne of grace. We commit ourselves and our

congregations to do so in obedience to the exhortation of the Word of God, 'that supplications, prayers, intercessions

and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable

life in all godliness and reverence’.



______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________



Wales. We are thankful for the safe withdrawal of Your Majesty's forces from Afghanistan and continue to pray for the

peace of that nation. We remember in our prayers all who have lost loved ones in various conflicts, and those who

have suffered injury in mind and body. We thank Almighty God for the work of Your Majesty's chaplains to the Armed

Forces, and the ministry of the Soldiers and Airmens Scripture Readers Association

So pray Your Majesty’s most faithful subjects, the Ministers and Elders of the Free Church of Scotland, in General

Assembly convened.

5 Board of Trustees The General Assembly then called for the Report of the Board of Trustees which,

being in the hands of members, was referred to by the Chairman who addressed the Assembly thereanent.

First Motion: It was moved and seconded that:

(A) FINANCE REVIEW AND POLICY

1. The General Assembly receive and adopt the Report of the Board of Trustees and thank the Chairman, members

of the Board, the Chief Administrative Officer and his staff for their work.

2. The General Assembly note with regret the fact that they are losing the services of Mr Rod Morrison, Chief

Administrative Officer and, recognising his outstanding contribution to the ongoing work of the Church and the Board of

Trustees, they express their thanks and appreciation and wish him well in whatever sphere of employment he chooses to

follow after leaving his post.

3. The General Assembly acknowledge with humility and thanksgiving the provision made by the Lord for the

work of the Church. They thank those who gave in a regular, responsible and liberal manner in support of that work and

record their appreciation for legacies received during the year.

4. The General Assembly declare a stipend of £22,000 from 1st January 2015. They approve the continuance of the

other categories of salary that are paid at a fixed proportion of the stipend.

5. The General Assembly support the establishment of a Development Fund to be used for the purpose of providing

time-limited funding for special projects and activities that are clearly designed to make current work more sustainable

and that could stimulate growth.

(B) COMPLIANCE AND RISK MANAGEMENT




2. The General Assembly endorse the Board’s view that there is a need to raise the awareness of charity trustees at

congregational and central level of their responsibilities in relation to legal compliance. They instruct the Board to conduct

a careful assessment of priority areas and to develop guidance materials where appropriate.






Board of Trustees.









______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________





(C) COMMUNICATIONS

1. The General Assembly note the production of a communications strategy and endorse the aims of providing a

compelling Christian voice in Scottish public life and improving internal communications across the Church. They also

support the proposal to develop a pool of people from around the Church with the expertise to assist in the preparation of

policy papers across a range of contemporary issues. To this end, they instruct the Board to write to Kirk Sessions setting

out the disciplines to be covered and the competencies sought.

2. The General Assembly note with regret the resignation of Rev. Dr Malcolm Maclean as editor of The Record.

They thank Dr Maclean for all his work during his tenure as editor and are grateful to him for agreeing to continue in post


3. The General Assembly support the Board’s recommendation that the editorship of The Record should not be

restricted to ministers and elders of the Free Church of Scotland. They enact as follows:

3.1 The General Assembly direct that the qualifications for appointment as editor of The Record shall be as follows:

3.1.1 The editor shall be a communicant member of the Free Church of Scotland and a person of some maturity in

Christian life.

3.1.2 The qualifications and experience of the candidate shall be matched as closely as possible to the remit for the


3.1.3 The term of appointment will be for seven years, with eligibility for reappointment.

3.1.4 The editor will be accountable to the Board of Trustees.

3.1.5 Remuneration and conditions of service shall be set by the Board of Trustees.

3.2 When a vacancy occurs, the following procedures will be followed:

3.2.1 The Secretary of the Board of Trustees will circulate all Presbyteries and Kirk Sessions of the Church setting out


3.2.2 The Board of Trustees will arrange for an appropriate interview panel to meet with the short listed candidates


3.2.3 The Board will recommend its preferred candidate to the General Assembly. The General Assembly may accept


Board.

3.3 The General Assembly repeal Act XXX, 2007, and also any other previous acts inconsistent with the foregoing.

4. The General Assembly endorse the Board’s plans to undertake a detailed review of the Church’s publications,

including The Record. They recognise that the time involved in conducting such a review has prevented the nomination

to this Assembly of a proposed candidate to take over as editor of The Record. In light of this, they empower the

Commission of Assembly to take up and dispose of a Report from the Board on this topic with a view to the appointment

of a new editor who will take up the position from the beginning of 2016.

5. The General Assembly support the clarification of the arrangements for the oversight of the Church’s magazines

and to that end directs that the Board shall have oversight responsibility for The Record, Compass and Free. The General


(D) LAW AND ADVICE



______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

1. The General Assembly note with thankfulness that progress has been made in several local settings in relation to

resolving disputes with the Free Church (Continuing) over property and assets.

2. The General Assembly note with sadness the death of Mr John Miller, retired Senior Partner of Simpson and

Marwick, the Church’s former Law Agent. They are thankful for the many years of sound advice and faithful support

provided to the Church by Mr Miller and express their sincere condolences to his widow and other relatives and friends

at this sad time.

(E) OTHER MATTERS

1. Assembly Procedures

1.1 The General Assembly, in order to ensure the greatest possible efficiency and equity in the election by

Presbyteries of their Commissioners to the General Assembly, hereby pass the following Overture to Presbyteries under

the terms of the Barrier Act:








Formula.














the terms of the Barrier Act.















______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________




1.3 The General Assembly shall continue to welcome a visit from Her Majesty’s Lord High Commissioner, as an

indication of the Free Church of Scotland’s position on the Church-State relationship.

1.4 The General Assembly note with approval the Board’s comments and conclusions on the administration of

Assembly business, the location, date and frequency of the Assembly. They instruct the Assembly Clerk’s Office to

monitor these matters on an annual basis and to report with any recommendations through its annual report or through

the Board of Trustees, whichever is the more appropriate.

2. Clerks’ Appointments

2.1 The General Assembly endorse the Board’s view that it is desirable to set fixed terms of appointment for clerks

of committees, boards, Presbyteries and the General Assembly. They enact that, from May 2015, the following shall

apply:

(a) Clerks of standing committees and boards of the General Assembly shall be appointed for an initial four year




(b) Clerks of Presbytery, the Principal Clerk of the General Assembly and the Assistant Clerk of the General





(c) In order that the terms of office of the Principal Clerk of Assembly and the Assistant Clerk of Assembly do



Assembly.

2.2 The General Assembly hereby repeal all previous legislation pertaining to the periods of appointment of the


3. Missions Board and Missions Director

3.1 The General Assembly note that no substantive issues were identified that would prevent the appointment of

a unified Missions Board.

3.2 The General Assembly, recognising that the part-time Missions Development Officer post is coming to an end

and that it is necessary to have a dedicated resource to support the work of the Missions Board in championing the work

of home and international mission throughout the Church, approve the creation of the post of Missions Director. They





term.

4. The General Assembly note developments in relation to the Church’s training needs and support the ongoing

work on placement arrangements for seminary students together with the review of the selection and admissions process

for ministry candidates.

5. The General Assembly note the Board’s conclusions in respect of the possibility of deacons serving as

members of standing committees and boards. They hereby amend § 1.1.4 of Act VI, 2014 to read as follows:

1.1.4 Membership: Thirteen members in total including the Principal Clerk of Assembly ex

officio. The remaining membership shall comprise at least four ministers and at least six office

bearers of whom up to two might be deacons. Members shall be appointed by the General Assembly

for a four year term, renewable for one further term of four years. The General Assembly shall



______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

appoint one of the Board, who shall always be an elder, as Chairman, for a four year term, renewable

for one further term of four years. The quorum shall be three trustees.




7. The General Assembly instruct the Board of Trustees to bring a report to the 2016 General Assembly setting

out proposals for measures that might be taken to expedite the filling of ministerial vacancies when they occur.

(F) NOMINATIONS

1. The General Assembly note the resignation of Mr Murdo Murchison and Mr Adam de Jong from the Board

of Trustees and thank them for their contributions to the work of the Board. They approve the interim appointment of

Mr Callum Macdonald to the Board of Trustees. They also approve of Mr Macdonald’s appointment for a full term of

service on the Board of Trustees as from the 2015 Assembly.

2. The General Assembly note the resignation of Rev. Alasdair Macleod from the Psalmody and Praise

Committee. They thank him for his service and are thankful that he is restored to health.

3. The General Assembly waive the stipulation of Act VI, 2014 § 6, in the case of Rev. Paul Clarke to allow him

to serve on the Board of Trustees.

4. The General Assembly waive the stipulation of Act VI, 2014 § 6, in the case of Rev. David Kirk to allow him

to serve on the Missions Board.

5. The General Assembly appoint a Missions Board, to discharge the functions of the Home Missions Board and

the International Missions Board as presently constituted. The Board shall assume responsibility for developing

appropriate denominational partnerships at home and abroad, as well as partnerships with other organisations and

agencies, in order to enhance the Church’s ability to reach out with the Gospel. Membership of the Board shall be eight

members in total comprising six ministers and two elders appointed by the General Assembly for a four year term

renewable for one further term of four years. The Chairman shall be appointed from the membership of the Board by

the General Assembly for a four year term, renewable for one further term of four years. The quorum shall be three

members of the Board.

6. The General Assembly appoint the following membership of Committees and Boards:

Board of Trustees 2015

Mr James M. Fraser

Mr Donald Mackenzie

Mr Callum Macdonald

Mr John Matheson

Mr Angus Mackay

Rev. Kenneth J. Macleod

Rev. David C. Meredith

Rev. Dr M. M. Maclean

Rev. Paul Clarke

Rev. John H. Maclean

Rev. Chris Smart

Mr Murdo Macleod

Principal Clerk ex officio

ILR

SWR

ILR

N

ILR

GA

ILR

ILR

EP

SWR

ILR

WI

[2/3]

[4/1]

[4/1]

[3/1]

[4/2]

[3/1]

[3/1]

[2/1]

[4/2]

[1/2]

[4/2]

[4/2]

Chairman: Mr James M. Fraser

Clerk: Chief Executive Officer

Board of Ministry 2015



______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Rev. Angus MacRae

Rev. Ivor Macdonald

Rev. Gordon Matheson

1 member appointed by Senate

Mr Murdo Murray

Mr Michael W. J. Townsend

Mr Colin Mackay

Mr Charles Anderson

ILR

GA

SWR

WI

WI

GA

ILR

[1/1]

[2/1]

[1/1]

[3/1]

[3/1]

[3/1]

[3/1]

Chairman: Rev. Angus MacRae

Clerk: Rev. Nigel Anderson

Seminary Board 2015

Principal ex officio

1 other member of Senatus

Chairman Board of Ministry

President SRC

Rev. Dr Iain D. Campbell

Rev. Dr Malcolm M. Maclean

Rev. Dr Fergus A. J. Macdonald

Mr Murdo MacPhail

Dr Graham Keith

WI

ILR

EP

WI

GA

[n/a]

[n/a]

[n/a]

[n/a]

[2/1]

[1/1]

[3/1]

[1/1]

[1/1]

Chairman: Rev. Dr Malcolm M. Maclean

Clerk: College Secretary

Missions Board 2015

Rev. Chris Smart

Rev. Alasdair M. Macleod

ILR

SWR

[4/2]

[2/2]

Rev. Iain Macaskill

Rev. Malcolm Macleod

Rev. David Kirk

Rev. Dr Colin Dow

Mr Iain A. Macdonald

N

WI

ILR

GA

ILR

EP

[4/1]

[2/2]

[4/1]

[4/1]

[4/2]

[4/1]

Chairman: Rev. Alasdair M. Macleod

Clerk: Miss Sarah Macleod

Notes

1. With regard to membership of the Boards and Committees where membership is for one four-year term, single

numbers in square brackets show the number of years remaining of this one four-year term.

2. With regard to membership of Boards and Committees where membership may be for a second four-year term,

there are two numbers within the square brackets; the first number indicates the years remaining of a four-year term;

the second number indicates which of the two four-year terms the first number applies to.

3. With regard to the newly appointed Missions Board the terms of Rev. Alasdair M. Macleod, Rev. Malcolm

Macleod and Mr Iain A. Macdonald show two years of service remaining in order to allow the ends of terms of service

and new appointments to be staggered in future years.

Psalmody & Praise Committee 2015

Rev. Alex MacDonald

Rev. Jeremy Ross

Mr Cameron Maciver

Dr George H. Coghill

Mr Colin Mackay

Mr Calum Martin

EP

EP

GA

EP

EP

WI

[3/1]

[4/2]

[3/1]

[4/2]

[2/2]

[1/2]

Convener: Rev. Jeremy Ross

Clerk: Mr Angus Macleod



______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

(G) CUSTODIER OF TITLES

1. The General Assembly approve the recommendations of the Board of Trustees in relation to an expedited

process for dealing with petitions relating to properties held under the Model Trust Deed. They enact and ordain as

follows:

1.1 The General Assembly, with reference to the Acts of the General Assembly hereinafter referred to and to the
















1.2 Without prejudice to section 1.5 hereof, all applications to the Board of Trustees for authority to sell or








1.3 The Board of Trustees will be bound, upon making a determination hereunder, to intimate such determination











1.4 With reference to sections 1.2 and 1.3 hereof, in any case where, in the opinion of the Board of Trustees special






1.5 In the event of the Board of Trustees being of the opinion that any individual matter hereunder should be



1.6 Where any funds which are or may be subject to the terms of this Act are to be applied in the purchase of any






______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

1.7 Where the proceeds of sale of a property are not to be immediately applied to the purchase of another property,


Congregation.

1.8 It is hereby declared that any determination made under the powers hereby delegated authorising the sale or


Repeal and Amendment

1.9 Act VIII, 1963 and Act IV, 1889, both as amended by Act V, 1967, are hereby repealed.

1.10 Act XVIII, 1844 is from the date of this Act to be interpreted so that the consent of the General Assembly or



2. The General Assembly receive the petition from the Deacons’ Court of Lochcarron and Applecross Free

Church and grant its crave. They authorise the sale of the Free Church Manse at Applecross, the transaction to be carried

out under the supervision of the Church’s Law Agent, and direct that the proceeds of sale be held by the General

Trustees and that the congregation have access to these funds for the repair, maintenance and development of existing

congregational properties and for specific congregational projects subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees.

3. The General Assembly receive the petition from the Deacons’ Court of Scalpay Free Church and grant its

crave. They direct that the congregation be given access, upon application to the Chief Administrative Officer, to the

sum of £15,000 held by the Board of Trustees, for the purpose of replenishing the congregation’s savings.

4. The General Assembly receive the petition from the Deacons’ Court of Knox Free Church Perth and grant its

crave. They authorise the congregation to have access to the surplus funds from the sale of the manse at Pitlochry held

by the Board of Trustees, upon application to the Chief Administrative Officer, to facilitate the taking on of a Ministry

Apprentice/Assistant to support the furtherance of the gospel in Perth.

5. The General Assembly receive the petition from the Finance Committee of Tarbert Free Church and grant its

crave. They direct that the congregation have access to the sum of £4,710.37 held by the Board of Trustees, upon

application to the Chief Administrative Officer, for repairs to the church building at Tarbert.

(H) JUDICIAL COMMISSION




Mr J. MacRae [4/2]



Rev. A. Cowie [4/2]









Mr David Lipp [4/2]










______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________





(I) SYNODS









Second Motion: It was also moved and seconded that:

That Section (E) 5 of the Deliverance be deleted and Sections 6 and 7 be renumbered.

Third Motion: It was also moved and seconded that:

That paragraph (F) 3 be deleted and be replaced by: “The General Assembly appoint Mr Clive Bailey to serve on the

Board of Trustees.”

On a vote being taken between the Second Motion and the First Motion, the First Motion was declared carried by a

majority.

On a vote being taken between the Third Motion and the First Motion, the First Motion was declared carried by a

majority.

Finding Wherefore:

(A) FINANCE REVIEW AND POLICY

1. The General Assembly receive and adopt the Report of the Board of Trustees and thank the Chairman, members

of the Board, the Chief Administrative Officer and his staff for their work.

2. The General Assembly note with regret the fact that they are losing the services of Mr Rod Morrison, Chief

Administrative Officer and, recognising his outstanding contribution to the ongoing work of the Church and the Board of

Trustees, they express their thanks and appreciation and wish him well in whatever sphere of employment he chooses to

follow after leaving his post.

3. The General Assembly acknowledge with humility and thanksgiving the provision made by the Lord for the

work of the Church. They thank those who gave in a regular, responsible and liberal manner in support of that work and

record their appreciation for legacies received during the year.

4. The General Assembly declare a stipend of £22,000 from 1st January 2015. They approve the continuance of the

other categories of salary that are paid at a fixed proportion of the stipend.

5. The General Assembly support the establishment of a Development Fund to be used for the purpose of providing

time-limited funding for special projects and activities that are clearly designed to make current work more sustainable

and that could stimulate growth.

(B) COMPLIANCE AND RISK MANAGEMENT






______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. The General Assembly endorse the Board’s view that there is a need to raise the awareness of charity trustees at

congregational and central level of their responsibilities in relation to legal compliance. They instruct the Board to conduct

a careful assessment of priority areas and to develop guidance materials where appropriate.






Board of Trustees.











(C) COMMUNICATIONS

1. The General Assembly note the production of a communications strategy and endorse the aims of providing a

compelling Christian voice in Scottish public life and improving internal communications across the Church. They also

support the proposal to develop a pool of people from around the Church with the expertise to assist in the preparation of

policy papers across a range of contemporary issues. To this end, they instruct the Board to write to Kirk Sessions setting

out the disciplines to be covered and the competencies sought.

2. The General Assembly note with regret the resignation of Rev. Dr Malcolm Maclean as editor of The Record.

They thank Dr Maclean for all his work during his tenure as editor and are grateful to him for agreeing to continue in post


3. The General Assembly support the Board’s recommendation that the editorship of The Record should not be

restricted to ministers and elders of the Free Church of Scotland. They enact as follows:

3.1 The General Assembly direct that the qualifications for appointment as editor of The Record shall be as follows:

3.1.1 The editor shall be a communicant member of the Free Church of Scotland and a person of some maturity in

Christian life.

3.1.2 The qualifications and experience of the candidate shall be matched as closely as possible to the remit for the


3.1.3 The term of appointment will be for seven years, with eligibility for reappointment.

3.1.4 The editor will be accountable to the Board of Trustees.

3.1.5 Remuneration and conditions of service shall be set by the Board of Trustees.

3.2 When a vacancy occurs, the following procedures will be followed:

3.2.1 The Secretary of the Board of Trustees will circulate all Presbyteries and Kirk Sessions of the Church setting out


3.2.2 The Board of Trustees will arrange for an appropriate interview panel to meet with the short listed candidates




______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3.2.3 The Board will recommend its preferred candidate to the General Assembly. The General Assembly may accept


Board.

3.3 The General Assembly repeal Act XXX, 2007, and also any other previous acts inconsistent with the foregoing.

4. The General Assembly endorse the Board’s plans to undertake a detailed review of the Church’s publications,

including The Record. They recognise that the time involved in conducting such a review has prevented the nomination

to this Assembly of a proposed candidate to take over as editor of The Record. In light of this, they empower the

Commission of Assembly to take up and dispose of a Report from the Board on this topic with a view to the appointment

of a new editor who will take up the position from the beginning of 2016.

5. The General Assembly supports the clarification of the arrangements for the oversight of the Church’s magazines

and to that end directs that the Board shall have oversight responsibility for The Record, Compass and Free. The General


(D) LAW AND ADVICE

1. The General Assembly notes with thankfulness that progress has been made in several local settings in relation

to resolving disputes with the Free Church (Continuing) over property and assets.

2. The General Assembly note with sadness the death of Mr John Miller, retired Senior Partner of Simpson and

Marwick, the Church’s former Law Agent. They are thankful for the many years of sound advice and faithful support

provided to the Church by Mr Miller and express their sincere condolences to his widow and other relatives and friends

at this sad time.

(E) OTHER MATTERS

1. Assembly Procedures



the terms of the Barrier Act:








Formula.














______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________



the terms of the Barrier Act.
















1.3 The General Assembly shall continue to welcome a visit from Her Majesty’s Lord High Commissioner, as an

indication of the Free Church of Scotland’s position on the Church-State relationship.

1.4 The General Assembly note with approval the Board’s comments and conclusions on the administration of

Assembly business, the location, date and frequency of the Assembly. They instruct the Assembly Clerk’s Office to

monitor these matters on an annual basis and to report with any recommendations through its annual report or through

the Board of Trustees, whichever is the more appropriate.

2. Clerks’ Appointments

2.1 The General Assembly endorse the Board’s view that it is desirable to set fixed terms of appointment for clerks

of committees, boards, Presbyteries and the General Assembly. They enact that, from May 2015, the following shall

apply:

(a) Clerks of standing committees and boards of the General Assembly shall be appointed for an initial four year




(b) Clerks of Presbytery, the Principal Clerk of the General Assembly and the Assistant Clerk of the General





(c) In order that the terms of office of the Principal Clerk of Assembly and the Assistant Clerk of Assembly do



Assembly.

2.2 The General Assembly hereby repeal all previous legislation pertaining to the periods of appointment of the


3. Missions Board and Missions Director

3.1 The General Assembly note that no substantive issues were identified that would prevent the appointment of

a unified Missions Board.



______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3.2 The General Assembly, recognising that the part-time Missions Development Officer post is coming to an end

and that it is necessary to have a dedicated resource to support the work of the Missions Board in championing the work

of home and international mission throughout the Church, approve the creation of the post of Missions Director. They





term.

4. The General Assembly note developments in relation to the Church’s training needs and support the ongoing

work on placement arrangements for seminary students together with the review of the selection and admissions process

for ministry candidates.

5. The General Assembly note the Board’s conclusions in respect of the possibility of deacons serving as

members of standing committees and boards. They hereby amend § 1.1.4 of Act VI, 2014 to read as follows:

1.1.4 Membership: Thirteen members in total including the Principal Clerk of Assembly ex

officio. The remaining membership shall comprise at least four ministers and at least six office

bearers of whom up to two might be deacons. Members shall be appointed by the General Assembly

for a four year term, renewable for one further term of four years. The General Assembly shall

appoint one of the Board, who shall always be an elder, as Chairman, for a four year term, renewable

for one further term of four years. The quorum shall be three trustees.




7. The General Assembly instruct the Board of Trustees to bring a report to the 2016 General Assembly setting

out proposals for measures that might be taken to expedite the filling of ministerial vacancies when they occur.

(F) NOMINATIONS

1. The General Assembly note the resignation of Mr Murdo Murchison and Mr Adam de Jong from the Board

of Trustees and thank them for their contributions to the work of the Board. They approve the interim appointment of

Mr Callum Macdonald to the Board of Trustees. They also approve of Mr Macdonald’s appointment for a full term of

service on the Board of Trustees as from the 2015 Assembly.

2. The General Assembly note the resignation of Rev. Alasdair Macleod from the Psalmody and Praise

Committee. They thank him for his service and are thankful that he is restored to health.

3. The General Assembly waive the stipulation of Act VI, 2014 § 6, in the case of Rev. Paul Clarke to allow him

to serve on the Board of Trustees.

4. The General Assembly waive the stipulation of Act VI, 2014 § 6, in the case of Rev. David Kirk to allow him

to serve on the Missions Board.

5. The General Assembly appoint a Missions Board, to discharge the functions of the Home Missions Board and

the International Missions Board as presently constituted. The Board shall assume responsibility for developing

appropriate denominational partnerships at home and abroad, as well as partnerships with other organisations and

agencies, in order to enhance the Church’s ability to reach out with the Gospel. Membership of the Board shall be eight

members in total comprising six ministers and two elders appointed by the General Assembly for a four year term

renewable for one further term of four years. The Chairman shall be appointed from the membership of the Board by

the General Assembly for a four year term, renewable for one further term of four years. The quorum shall be three

members of the Board.

6. The General Assembly appoint the following membership of Committees and Boards:

Board of Trustees 2015



______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Mr James M. Fraser

Mr Donald Mackenzie

Mr Callum Macdonald

Mr John Matheson

Mr Angus Mackay

Rev. Kenneth J. Macleod

Rev. David C. Meredith

Rev. Dr M. M. Maclean

Rev. Paul Clarke

Rev. John H. Maclean

Rev. Chris Smart

Mr Murdo Macleod

Principal Clerk ex officio

ILR

SWR

ILR

N

ILR

GA

ILR

ILR

EP

SWR

ILR

WI

[2/3]

[4/1]

[4/1]

[3/1]

[4/2]

[3/1]

[3/1]

[2/1]

[4/2]

[1/2]

[4/2]

[4/2]

Chairman: Mr James M. Fraser

Clerk: Chief Executive Officer

Board of Ministry 2015

Rev. Angus MacRae

Rev. Ivor Macdonald

Rev. Gordon Matheson

1 member appointed by Senate

Mr Murdo Murray

Mr Michael W. J. Townsend

Mr Colin Mackay

Mr Charles Anderson

ILR

GA

SWR

WI

WI

GA

ILR

[1/1]

[2/1]

[1/1]

[3/1]

[3/1]

[3/1]

[3/1]

Chairman: Rev. Angus MacRae

Clerk: Rev. Nigel Anderson

Seminary Board 2015

Principal ex officio

1 other member of Senatus

Chairman Board of Ministry

President SRC

Rev. Dr Iain D. Campbell

Rev. Dr Malcolm M. Maclean

Rev. Dr Fergus A. J. Macdonald

Mr Murdo MacPhail

Dr Graham Keith

WI

ILR

EP

WI

GA

[n/a]

[n/a]

[n/a]

[n/a]

[2/1]

[1/1]

[3/1]

[1/1]

[1/1]

Chairman: Rev. Dr Malcolm M. Maclean

Clerk: College Secretary

Missions Board 2015

Rev. Chris Smart

Rev. Alasdair M. Macleod

ILR

SWR

[4/2]

[2/2]

Rev. Iain Macaskill


Rev. David Kirk

Rev. Dr Colin Dow

Mr Iain A. Macdonald

Dr John Morrison

N

WI

ILR

GA

ILR

EP

[4/1]

[2/2]

[4/1]

[4/1]

[4/2]

[4/1]

Chairman: Rev. Alasdair M. Macleod

Clerk: Miss Sarah Macleod

Psalmody & Praise Committee 2015

Rev. Alex MacDonald

Rev. Jeremy Ross

Mr Cameron Maciver

EP

EP

GA

[3/1]

[4/2]

[3/1]



______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Dr George H. Coghill

Mr Colin Mackay

Mr Calum Martin

EP

EP

WI

[4/2]

[2/2]

[1/2]

Convener: Rev. Jeremy Ross

Clerk: Mr Angus Macleod

Notes

1. With regard to membership of the Boards and Committees where membership is for one four-year term, single

numbers in square brackets show the number of years remaining of this one four-year term.

2. With regard to membership of Boards and Committees where membership may be for a second four-year term,

there are two numbers within the square brackets; the first number indicates the years remaining of a four-year term;

the second number indicates which of the two four-year terms the first number applies to.

3. With regard to the newly appointed Missions Board the terms of Rev. Alasdair M. Macleod, Rev. Malcolm

Macleod and Mr Iain A. Macdonald show two years of service remaining in order to allow the ends of terms of service

and new appointments to be staggered in future years.

(G) CUSTODIER OF TITLES

1. The General Assembly approve the recommendations of the Board of Trustees in relation to an expedited

process for dealing with petitions relating to properties held under the Model Trust Deed. They enact and ordain as

follows:

1.1 The General Assembly, with reference to the Acts of the General Assembly hereinafter referred to and to the
















1.2 Without prejudice to section 1.5 hereof, all applications to the Board of Trustees for authority to sell or








1.3 The Board of Trustees will be bound, upon making a determination hereunder, to intimate such determination











______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________



1.4 With reference to sections 1.2 and 1.3 hereof, in any case where, in the opinion of the Board of Trustees special






1.5 In the event of the Board of Trustees being of the opinion that any individual matter hereunder should be



1.6 Where any funds which are or may be subject to the terms of this Act are to be applied in the purchase of any




1.7 Where the proceeds of sale of a property are not to be immediately applied to the purchase of another property,


Congregation.

1.8 It is hereby declared that any determination made under the powers hereby delegated authorising the sale or


Repeal and Amendment

1.9 Act VIII, 1963 and Act IV, 1889, both as amended by Act V, 1967, are hereby repealed.

1.10 Act XVIII, 1844 is from the date of this Act to be interpreted so that the consent of the General Assembly or



2. The General Assembly receive the petition from the Deacons’ Court of Lochcarron and Applecross Free

Church and grant its crave. They authorise the sale of the Free Church Manse at Applecross, the transaction to be carried

out under the supervision of the Church’s Law Agent, and direct that the proceeds of sale be held by the General

Trustees and that the congregation have access to these funds for the repair, maintenance and development of existing

congregational properties and for specific congregational projects subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees.

3. The General Assembly receive the petition from the Deacons’ Court of Scalpay Free Church and grant its

crave. They direct that the congregation be given access, upon application to the Chief Administrative Officer, to the

sum of £15,000 held by the Board of Trustees, for the purpose of replenishing the congregation’s savings.

4. The General Assembly receive the petition from the Deacons’ Court of Knox Free Church Perth and grant its

crave. They authorise the congregation to have access to the surplus funds from the sale of the manse at Pitlochry held

by the Board of Trustees, upon application to the Chief Administrative Officer, to facilitate the taking on of a Ministry

Apprentice/Assistant to support the furtherance of the gospel in Perth.

5. The General Assembly receive the petition from the Finance Committee of Tarbert Free Church and grant its

crave. They direct that the congregation have access to the sum of £4,710.37 held by the Board of Trustees, upon

application to the Chief Administrative Officer, for repairs to the church building at Tarbert.

(H) JUDICIAL COMMISSION




Mr J. MacRae [4/2]





______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Rev. A. Cowie [4/2]









Mr David Lipp [4/2]












(I) SYNODS









6 Board of Trustees: Supplementary Report: Appointment of Assistant Clerk The General

Assembly called for the Supplementary Report of the Board of Trustees: Appointment of Assistant Clerk, which being

printed and in the hand of members, was referred to by the Chairman who addressed the Assembly thereant.

It was noted that the returns from Presbyteries regarding the appointment of an Assistant Clerk were in summary as

follows:

Edinburgh and Perth Rev. Angus MacRae

Rev. Nigel Anderson


Glasgow and Argyll Rev. Nigel Anderson


Western Isles


Inverness, Lochaber and Ross Rev. Malcolm Macleod

Rev. David MacPherson

Northern Rev. Malcolm Macleod

Skye and Wester Ross Rev. Malcolm Macleod

SUMMARY TOTALS

Rev. Malcolm Macleod 6

Rev. Nigel Anderson 2

Rev. Angus MacRae 1

Rev. David MacPherson 1



______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

On being informed of these details each of those nominated were contacted by the Principal Clerk. Rev. David

MacPherson, withdrew his name from consideration. Consequently the Board is requesting that the Assembly appoint

an Assistant Clerk from the names submitted or another as appropriate.

Finding It was also moved and seconded that:

1. The General Assembly receive and adopt the Supplementary Report of the Board of Trustees and thank the

Board.

2. The General Assembly thank Rev. Angus J. Howat for his faithful and diligent service to the Assembly as

Assistant Clerk and to the wider Church in other capacities. They wish him many further years of contented retirement

with God’s blessing.

3. The General Assembly note with approval the Job Description appended to this Report.

4. The General Assembly call for nominations for the post of Assistant Clerk of Assembly.

Wherefore: It was moved, seconded and agreed that:

The General Assembly appoint Rev. Malcolm Macleod to the post of Assistant Clerk of Assembly. His duties shall be

in accordance with the job description approved by this Assembly. His remuneration and conditions of service will be

in accordance with current practice, his duties to commence no later than the close of this Assembly.

7 Presentation: Rev. A. J. Howat The Moderator made a Presentation to Rev. Angus J. Howat on

his retiral from the post of Assistant Clerk of Assembly, expressing the thanks of the Church for his faithful service.

8 Delegate The following Delegate was introduced to the Moderator and invited to address the

Assembly:

Rev. Dr William Schweitzer, Evangelical Presbyterian Church of England and Wales.

9 Rev. Dr Sinclair Ferguson was welcomed by the Moderator and invited to address the General Assembly and

then to engage in prayer.

10 Adjournment The General Assembly did then adjourn to meet again in this hall at 6.30 o’clock

evening, whereof public intimation having been given, the sederunt was closed with prayer.


Tuesday 19th May, Evening Session 3

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


the 19th day of May 2015 years at 6.30 o’clock evening



2 Home Missions (E): Youth: Supplementary Report The General Assembly then called for the

Supplementary Report of the Home Missions Board (E): Youth, which, being printed and in the hands of members,

was referred to by the Convener who addressed the Assembly thereanent.

The Convener also presented a Supplementary Report in the following terms:

SUPPLEMENTARY REPORT

OF THE

HOME MISSION BOARD

AWARDS 2014 -2015

The following is a list of all who were awarded certificates for Sunday School work and for Explorations on the life of

Eric Liddell. All children receive a certificate to recognise their participation and to reward their efforts during the

year.

In those Sunday Schools that use the Free Church Syllabus, ‘M’ after a name indicates that the candidate has been

awarded a Certificate of Merit and ‘D’ after a name indicates that the candidate has been awarded a Certificate of

Distinction. Exploration certificates are also awarded at three grades.

This year a total of 858 certificates were awarded (897 last year) and 132 Explorations were submitted (132 last year).

INFANT GRADE

Numbers in brackets indicate 2014 figures.

There were 277 (318) certificates awarded and 38 (44) Explorations received.

Prizewinners:

1st Mark Connor, Glasgow City, Lyle Orr Award

2nd Eilidh McGregor, Perth, Duncan Maclean Memorial Prize

3rd Aimee Maciver, Greyfriars-Stratherrick, Donald Macdonald Memorial Prize

4th Alex Murray, Shawbost, Cathie Macrae Memorial Prize

5th Anna Macleod, Shawbost

6th Katie MacRae, Shawbost

7th Domhnall MacArthur, Shawbost

Special award for Explorations:

Kate MacAulay, Tain

CERTIFICATES AWARDED

PRESBYTERY OF EDINBURGH AND PERTH

Bon Accord: Jessica Gunn, Lily Chan, Leah Smith, Calum Tullich, James Martin, Finlay Morrison, Noah MacDonald,

Luke MacDonald, Nathan Ong, Holly Inglis, Violet Bavidge, Sidney Welsh, Hannah MacDonald, John MacLeod,

Andres Gutierrez, Tegan Smith, Ellie Ong, Alexander Ross, Mami



______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Buccleuch and Greyfriars: Sofie Saragih, Ian Hammer, James McKenna, Eva Lytle, Amy Macleod, Euan Lytle, Rosa

Lytle, Dara Faulkner, Catriona Hammer, Fraser MacLeod, Andrea, Jacob Sladek, Lauren Clunie, Lily MacLeod,

Tommy McPhillips, Lizzie McPhillips, Calum Lytle, Dickens

Perth: Mairi McGregor

Dunfermline: Millie Bell, Neil Ross, Tamlyn Thomson, Christian Thomson, Maura Thomson, Sarah Gordon, Grace

Pert

Falkirk: Eilidh Macleod, Lucy Myles, John MacLeod, Calum Macleod

Leith: Joseph Fioretti, Joseph Simpson

London City: Adam Bitner, John Huey, Colin Pearson, Ellie-Rose Pearson, Jacques Prinsloo

St Andrews: Ambrose Wittman, Clement Wittman, Anselm Fox, Isla Sneddon, Charlotte Llewellyn, Peter Naughton,

Harry Purvis, Ellie Ylitalo, Ezra Ylitalo, Joel Rouvinez, Xander Sneddon, Rebecca Sneddon, Reuben Loe, Stefan

Hanson, Olivia Hanson

PRESBYTERY OF GLASGOW AND ARGYLL

Ayr: Anisa Moyo, Ian Grains

Dowanvale: Ava Douglas (D), Rebecca Macleod (D), Grace Melville (D), Cameron Macdermid (D), Iona Murray

(D), Daniel Redman (D), Duncan Spiers (D), Isaac Macaulay, Kathryn Redman (D), Roseanna Macdonald, Ryan

Mackenzie, Aaron Drummond, Cailean Macdermid ((D)

Coatbridge: Amily Devoti, Nathan Fallon, Katie Bruce, Marc Devoti

Dumfries: Marissa Smith (D), Jack Harris (D)

East Kilbride: Daisy Macaulay, Cameron Macaulay, Keiran MacDonald (D)

Glasgow City: Mark Connor (D), Daniel Lockington (D), Rory Macaskill (D), Kirsten Macdougall (D), Jessica

McGarvie (D), Alexa Mackison (D), Zach Mackison (D), Marianne Ridland (D), Joseph Wylie (D)

Govanhill: Jacob Haw, Zoe Haw, Mohamed Bah, Finlay Clark, Daniela Lingurar, Alasdair MacGillivary, Beth

Hastings, Marcela Nistorova, Petra Nistorova, Martin Bady, Janko Nistor, Nicolas Nistor, Ana Maria Bologova, Seonag

MacGillivray

Oban: Alexander Malloch, Anna Mackellar

PRESBYTERY OF INVERNESS, LOCHABER AND ROSS

Fort William: Allan MacColl

Greyfriars-Stratherrick: Joshua MacKenzie (M), Aimee Maciver (D), Hayley Fraser (D), Nicole Currie (D), Liam

Cowie (M), Alistair MacKenzie (D), Kaitlyn MacPhail (M), Calum MacAskil (D), Aeva Duff (D), Calum MacRaild

(D), Alexander MacLennan (M), Lewis MacLennan, Jennifer Murray, Tianna Cowie (M), Lewis Gray (D), Sianna

Maciver (D), Aran Dunn (D), Thomas MacRaild (D), Jessie Fraser (D)

Kilmallie: Ciara, Jamie Lee, Kirsten Dodds, Neave Dodds, Abigail Du Plessis, Aaron Du Plessis, Millie Henderson,

Thomas Henderson, Lexi Lauder, Kai Matheson, Amara Matheson, Maggie MacAskill, Daisy Macdonald, Zander

Macdonald, Shay Coll, John Maclean, Melissa McKay, Katie Pescod, Erin Stoddart, Josh Stoddart, Iona Tonks

Knockbain: Alasdair MacDonald (M), Elizabeth Ross (M), Isabella Taylor (M), Roslyn Topping (M), Calum Turner

(M)

Maryburgh and Killearnan: Ross Munro (D), David Chisholm (D)

Ferintosh: Cameron Brown, Callum Crawford, Jack Maclean-Yuille, David Ross, Isla Fraser

Resolis: Abbie Bathgate, David Ross, Miriam MacPherson

Urray and Strathconon: Abby Taylor, Cameron Macaskill, Kirsty Macaskill, Calum Maclennan, Marie Maclean

PRESBYTERY OF SKYE AND WESTER ROSS

Lochbroom and Coigach: Lois Macleod, Ruby Maclennan

Poolewe and Aultbea: Ellie MacRae

Portree: Angus Oag, Katie MacRae, Gordon Mackenzie, Ethan Caldwell, Katie MacDonald, Alexander Jackson,

Daisy Dickson, Ayla MacRae, Anna Moller, Charlie Oag, Lewis Mackenzie, Ross Evans, Callie Maclean, Findlay

MacDonald, John MacDonald

NORTHERN PRESBYTERY

Fearn: Jack Ross, Annabel Scaman, Seth Ockenden, Jack Bain, Joel Ockenden, Madison Fleming, Ali MacKay

Helmsdale: Aine Martin

Lybster: Saffiya Amin, Andrew Sinclair, Kirsty Young, Roza Amin

Rosskeen: Annabelle, Zia, Dominic, Catriona, Alara, Ella



______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

North Coast: Iain Magee, Scott Drennan, Maisie Mackay

PRESBYTERY OF THE WESTERN ISLES

Back: Daniel France (D), Jayden Pidcock (D), Samuel Maclennan (D, Angus Macleod (D), Cara Macritchie (D), Maree

Martin (D), Amelia Mackay (D), Cerys Maciver (D), Mark Macdonald (D), Joel Graham (D), Luc Smith (D), David

Finlayson (D), Coinneach Stewart (D), Bethany Macritchie (D), Ross Maciver (D), Kyla McMurdo (D), Jonathan

Graham (D), Samuel Cunningham (D), Iain Kenneth Maclennan (D), Jack Graham (D), Donald John McCarthy (D),

Bella Wilson (D), Mary Ann Macleod (D) Barvas: Iona Maclean, Sarah Ann Mackenzie, Lauren M. Macleod, Michael Macmillan, Emma Mason, Catriona

Campbell, Connor Graham, Stewart Graham

Callanish: Lois Morrison (D), Sarah Macbain (D), Enoch Finlayson (D), Marie Anna Reid (D), Coinach Smith (D),

Erin Macdonald (D)

Carloway: Andrew Maciver (M), John Davis (M), Calum Macleod (M), Lorca Macleod (M

Cross: Hannah Macritchie, Alasdair MacDonald, Murdo Alex Gillies, Calum Iain MacDonald, Fraser Libby, Daniel

Murray

Lochs: James MacRae (M), Aimee MacLeod (M), Samuel MacLeod (M), Chloe Hope (D), Kyla MacKenzie (D),

Samuel MacRae (D)

Pairc: Murray Begg, Innes Begg, Gregor Begg

North Tolsta: Chloe Dempsey, Mairi Macritchie, Elliot Henderson, Mary Morrison, Abigail MacLeod, Sophie

Macritchie

Shawbost: Domhnall Macarthur (D), Katie Macrae (D), Noah Williamson (M)

Stornoway: James Macmillan (D), Harris Mackay (D), Hector Neally (D), Scott Macaulay (D), Noah Morrison (D),

Lydia Macdonald (D), Kaitlin Macleod (D), Cailean Macritchie (M),

Tong: David Finlayson, Charlotte Bayfield, Leah Macritchie, Liam Somerville, Danny Maciver, Jayden Macdonald

INFANT EXPLORATIONS Exploring Eric Liddell

The following were awarded certificates:


Perth: Eilidh McGregor


Dumfries: Marissa Smith

Glasgow City: Mark Connor, Kirsten Macdougall


Urquhart and Resolis: David Ross

Greyfriars-Stratherrick: Hayley Fraser, Aimee Maciver, Alister Mackenzie

NORTHERN PRESBYTERY

Tain and Fearn: Martha Bauld, Kate MacAulay, Eva Webster, Charlie Blackhall


Lochbroom and Coigach: Florence Curley

WESTERN ISLES PRESBYTERY

Callanish: Mairi Anna Reid, Sarah Mairi MacBain

Carloway: Andrew MacIver, John Davis

Laxdale: Matthew Smith, Alana Martin, Maria Murray, Laura Mackay, Beth Macdonald, Murray Mackenzie, Aimee

Mackay, Shannon MacLeod, Maisi Morrison, Grace Mackay

Shawbost: Noah Williamson, Katie MacRae, Anna Macleod, Domhnall MacArthur, Alex Murray, Olivia Macleod



______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Stornoway: Kaitlin Macleod, Harris Mackay, Lydia Macdonald, Hector Neally, Scott Macaulay

JUNIOR GRADE



Prizewinners:

1st Ealasaid MacLean, Oban, Lyle Orr Award

2nd Lewis Connor, Glasgow City, Kenneth M. MacKay Memorial Prize

3rd Eleanor Smith, Perth, Donald MacPherson Memorial Prize

4th Anna McGregor, Perth, John Shaw Memorial Prize

5th Hannah Ferguson, Stornoway, Mrs Macleod Memorial Prize

6th Hannah Lockington, Glasgow City

Special awards for Explorations:

Rebecca Ross, Ferintosh

Neil Campbell, Aberdeen



Bon Accord: Yoshi Chan, Peter Laing, Ryan Inglis, Rebecca Gillies, Vivian Gutierrez, Anna MacKay, Finlay

Buchanan, Jude Laing, Neil Campbell, Rachel Buchanan, Ross Macleod

Buccleuch and Greyfriars: Addison Sladek, Carys Lytle, Abi Lytle, Ben Hammer, Nicholas Saragih, Fraser

McKenna, Matthew Clunie, Mhairi Maclean, Amy MacLeod, Angus MacLeod, James McKenna, Iain Hammer, Eva

Lytle, Sophie Saragih

Dunfermline: Robbie Ross, Nicole Sanders, Tanya Sanders, Callum Gordon, Lynn Harvey, Ben McCreadie, Iain Ross

Falkirk: Steven Randall, Andrew Tait, Lucy Anne Hartley, Duncan Morrison, Eilidh Macmillan, David Nicolson,

Megan Randall, Sophie Randall, Katy Thomson, Joanna Macleod, Finlay Morrison

Leith: Abigail Fioretti, David Fioretti

London City: James Bitner, John Bitner, Samuel Bitner, Allan Fraser, Shona Fraser, Maisie Macdonald, Martin

Prinsloo

Perth: Anna McGregor, Eilidh McGregor, Rebecca Gibson, Eleanor Smith, Emillie Goligher

St Andrews: Rosemary Poe, Beth Purvis, Archie Clarke, Sophie Clarke, Elijah Ylitalo


Ayr: Colleen Grains, Kate Paton, Joel Moyo, Samuel Douglas, Chloe Cummings

Campbeltown: Hannah Walker, Chloe Cummings, Evie Powell, Eilidh Powell, Rhys Thompson, Jim Ewart, Ruby

Soper, Crissie Ewart

Coatbridge: Jacob Campbell, Rona MacIver, David Devoti, Joel Robertson, Alex Marie Wilson, Stewart Campbell

Dowanvale: Hannah Morrison (D), Hannah Redman (D), Andrew Macleod (D), Izzy Speirs (D), Iver Campbell (D),

Miriam Macdonald (D), Keira Allison (D), Lachlan Kennedy (D),

Dumfries: Joni Smith (D)

Glasgow City: Kate Connor (D), Sophie Macaskill (D), Kathryn Dow (D), Lauren MacLean (D), Scott Morrison (D),

Madelyn MacDougall (D), Michael Alaa (M), Lewis Connor (D), Jonathan Dow (D), Hannah Lockington (D), Georgia

Macdougall (M), Joshua McGarvie (M), Alex MacLean (D), Cameron Stephen (D)

Govanhill: Morven MacIver, Rhona MacIver, Mariama Bah, Marta Couac, Ceit MacGillivray, Vanessa Nistor, Emil

Nistor, Samuel Nistor

Oban: Ewen Campbell, Archie Malloch, Ealasaid MacLean, Jamie Pyper, Corey Pyper


Fort William: Leonard Baak, Emma MacColl, Walter Baak

Free North: Niall Jenkins, Neil Sutherland, Rachel Cameron, Roddy Maclennan, Rachel Sutherland, James Cuthbert,

Scott Montgomery, Alicia Hargreaves, Rosie Crooks



______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Free North (Madras Street): Lizzie Tidey, Rosie Crooks, Beth Crooks, Hannah Jeremiah, Rachel Sutherland, Alichia

Hargreaves, Shaun Morrison, Struan Mackintosh, Lyall Wallace, Rian Forsyth, Shaun Esmond, Stephen Noble, Logan

Williams, Aaron Hargreaves, Neil Sutherland, Jaiden, Niall Jenkins, Elise Williams, Alex Henry, Megan Stewart, Sarah

Stewart, Alex Fraser, Calum Sullivan, Vinnie Sullivan, Jason Wilson, Lauren Ramsay

Greyfriars-Stratherrick: Scott Murray, Jayne Morrison (D), Bethany Gleeson (M), Lauren Maciver (M), Chloe

Maciver (M), Michael Currie (M), David Flemming, Matthew Davidson (D), Rebecca MacRae (D), Rebecca MacPhail

(D), Evette MacAskil (D), William MacKenzie (D), Finlay Morrison (D), Lachlan Fraser (D), Scott MacKenzie (M), Donald MacKenzie (M), Tyler Paton (D), Lachlan MacAskil (D), Eilidh Gray (D), Scott Gray (D), James MacKenzie

(M), Alasdair Mackinnon, Maree MacAskil (D)

Kilmallie: Jayjay Calder, Katie Emma Connolly, Maggie Cummings, Kyle Du Plessis, Lynda Fallows, Anna Ferguson,

Abi Ferguson, Jorja Haldenby, Lauren Henderson, Aidan Love, Alisha Murray, Freddie Patterson, Sally Patterson,

Amy Maclean, Elspeth Murray, Megan Pescod, Heidi Smith, Talia Stoddart

Knockbain: Marina MacDonald (D), Finlay Renwick (D), Harrison Renwick (D), Ellie Stewart (D), Josh Taylor (D),

Kirsty Topping (D), John Turner (D), Fraser Urquhart (D), William Urquhart (D)

Maryburgh and Killearnan: David Stewart (D), Anna Munro (D)

Nairn: Lydia MacDonald, Abigayil Charters, Phebe White, Natasha Wetton, Harley Murison

Ferintosh: James Fraser, Marcus MacRae, Matthew Smart, Caitlin Magowan, Rebecca Ross, Alexander Brown, Beth

Fraser, Evie Maclean-Yuille, Joshua Smart, James Stewart, Rebecca Stewart, Farquhar MacRae, Ross Stewart

Resolis: Sophie Bathgate, Rebekah Macpherson, Rebecca Ross

Urray and Strathconon: Katie Maclean, Rachel Martin, Joanna Macaskill, Chloe Macleod, Heather Macdonald,

Grant Maclennan

NORTHERN PRESBYTERY

Helmsdale: Caitlin Martin, Lorna MacRae, Jonathan Adams, Emily Adams

Lairg: Robert Kirk, Lily Siggers, Eilidh McPhee, Keely Anne Macphee

Fearn: Abigail McCann, Rachel Ross, Hannah Paterson, Shona MacKay

North Coast: Heather Mackay, Alannah Drennan

Rosskeen: Cameron, Liam, Abigail, Isabel, Anna, Neil, Donald, Liam, Samuel, Lyla, Summer


Gairloch and Kinlochewe: Anna Maclennan, Abigail Crawford, Amber Crawford, Adam Morrison, Alana Young

Lochbroom and Coigach: Abby Middleton, Chloe Middleton, Leah Cunningham, Shannon Urquhart, Fraser

Macgregor, Judy Urquhart, Angus Macpherson, Daniel Heaney, Duncan MacLeod, Alasdair Last, Andrew MacLeod,

Mairead Last

Poolewe and Aultbea: Charlotte Smith, Sammy Smith, Grace Stephen, Savannah Kelly, Casey MacRae, Grant

Walton, Calum MacKenzie, Coll Mackenzie, Cameron MacRae, Jacob MacRae, Alasdair MacKay, Jack MacKenzie

Portree: Andrew MacRae, Isla Macinnes, Caleb Caldwell, Myles Jackson, Calum Maclean, Katie Dickson, Dean

Macinnes, Freya Turner, Shannon MacLeod, Jack Evans, Archie MacDonald, Holly Maclean, Sileas Urquhart

Staffin: Jonathan Beaton, Declan Malloy


Back: Euan Macleod (D), Calum Macrae (D), Seumas Murray (D), Murdo Macdonald (D), Daniel Macleod (D), Glenn

Martin (D), Caitlin Macleod (D), Aimee Maciver (D), Ceitlin Morrison (D), Ellen McMurdo (D), Sandy Macdonald

(D), Alexander Macleod (D), Alison Graham (D), Kitty Maciver (D), Rebecca Mackenzie (D), Talia Graham (D),

Olivia McElhaton (D), Isla Murray (D), Alana MacDonald (D), Cara Graham (D), Hannah Mackenzie (D), David

Anderson (D), Luke Macleod (D), James Morrison (D), Colin Ferguson (D), Robert Maclellan (D), Kyle Macleod (D),

Erin Macleod (D), Ellie Macdonald (D), Holly Martin (D), Ruth Cunningham (D), Jessica Maclennan (D), Claire

Steven (D), Steven Mutch (D), Ross Maciver (D), James Maclennan (D), Leanne Smith (D)

Barvas: Seumas M. Smith, Kirsty Maclean, Rachel Campbell, Ross Macdonald, Maria Maclean, Faye Smith, James

Macdonald, Alisha Mason, Lisa Mason

Callanish: Aaron Macdonald (D), Jacob Morrison (D), Matthew MacLean (D), Domhnall Calum Reid (D)

Cross: Katherine M. Matheson, Eilidh Ferguson, Katie MacDonald, Emma Gibbons, Alasdair MacDonald, Samuel

Libby

Lochs: Samantha MacLeod (D), Ruairidh MacDonald (D), Ellis MacLeod (D), Andrew Wilson (D), Christina

MacLeod (D), Daniel MacLeod (D), Alyth Campbell (D)

North Tolsta: Julia Henderson, Abby Macritchie, Alice Macintosh, Amy Macmillan, Ceit Murray, Cameron

MacLeod, Eilidh Macleod



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Pairc: Eric Frobisher, Stephanie Frobisher, Murdo Angus Kennedy, Isla Campbell

Shawbost: Anna Macleod (D), Olivia Macleod (M), Scott Macarthur (D), Alex Murray (M), Daniel Gillies (M),

Catriona Macarthur (D), Samantha Macarthur (D), Natalie Mackay (D), Jayne Gillies (D), Ross Macdonald (D),

Finlay John Macaulay (D), Tormod Maclennan (D), Daniel Macarthur (M)

Stornoway: Kenneth Macleod (D), Callum Macaulay (D), Finlay Campbell (D), Mark Morrison (D), Billy Mackay

(D), Aileen Morrison (D), Kirsty Macleod (D), Leah Morrison (D), Daniel Ferguson (D), Cailean Macaulay (D), Emma

MacLeod (D), Hannah Ferguson (D), Iain Campbell (D), Rachel Jefferson (D)

Tong: Adam Finlayson, Eilidh Macdonald, Heather Maciver, Tori Mackinnon, Adam Mackinnon, Eilidh Ferguson,

Kelci Smith, MaryAnne Macphail, Cailean Macdonald, Grace Macleod, Jamie Ferguson, Daniel James Macdonald,

Ruby Macmillan, Katie Murray, Christopher Macdonald, Cole Smith, Scott Campbell, Ajay Mohammed, Owen

Maclennan

JUNIOR EXPLORATIONS Exploring Eric Liddell



Bon Accord: Neil Campbell

Perth: Rebecca Gibson, Eleanor Smith, Anna McGregor


Dumfries: Joni Smith

Glasgow City: Hannah Lockington, Lewis Connor, Cameron Stephen, Madelyn MacDougall, Georgia MacDougall

Oban: Ealasaid MacLean, Archie Malloch


Greyfriars Stratherrick: Lachlan Fraser, Maree MacAskill, Lachlan MacAskill, Evette Macaskill, Finlay Morrison,

Scott MacKenzie, Donald Mackenzie, Matthew Davidson, Tyler Paton, William Mackenzie, James Mackenzie

Maryburgh and Killearnan: David Stewart

Urquhart and Resolis: Rebecca Ross

NORTHERN PRESBYTERY

Tain and Fearn: Ellie Blackhall, Jocelyn Rose Webster, Sam McNeil, Emma Joan MacAulay, Hannah Paterson


Lochbroom and Coigach: Chloe Middleton, Andrew MacLeod, Duncan MacLeod, Alasdair Last, Mairead Last


Callanish: Matthew Maclean, Domhnall Calum Reid

Crossbost: Daniel MacLeod

Lochs: Christian Matheson

Shawbost: Finlay John Macaulay, Tormod Maclennan, Daniel MacArthur, Catriona MacArthur, Daniel Gillies, Scott

MacArthur, Samantha MacArthur

Stornoway (Central): Aileen Morrison, Finlay Campbell, Cailean Macaulay, Kenny Macleod, Iain Campbell, Daniel

Ferguson, James Macmillan, Calum Macaulay, Hannah Ferguson, Mark Morrison, Billy Mackay

Tong: MaryAnne Macphail, Kelci Smith

BIBLE CLASS GRADES 1 AND 2





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Prizewinners:

Grade 1

1st Matthew Hanlon, Stornoway, Lyle-Orr Award

2nd Kate Connor, Glasgow City, Kenneth M. Mackay Memorial Prize

3rd Cara Macdonald, Shawbost, Donald MacPherson Memorial Prize

4th Martha Stephen, Glasgow City

5th Anna MacQueen, Greyfriars-Stratherrick

6th Bethany Davidson, Shawbost

Grade 2

Katie Gillies, Shawbost, Lyle-Orr Award

Special awards for Explorations:

Anna Maria Stewart, Maryburgh and Killearnan

Mairi Ann Urquhart, Lochbroom



Buccleuch and Greyfriars: Ailis Maclean, Sam Maclean, Lauren MacLeod, Michael MacLeod, Jennifer MacLeod,

Conrad Sladek

Falkirk: Sam MacMillan, Tiffy Daramola, Jessica Morrison, Kayleigh Graham, Sol MacMillan, Luke Randall, Tiwi

Daramola, Joshua Tait, Matthew Hartley, James Morrison

St Andrews: Fin MacDonald, Kenny MacIver, Freddie Clarke, Jeremie Rouvinez, Emma Ylitalo


Dowanvale: Abby Morrison (D), Lauren Allison (D), Eilidh Jenkins (D), Catriona-Mairi Cuthbert (D), Amy Buck (D),

Angus Buck (D), Iain Grant (D), Ruaridh Morrison (D), Calum Morrison, (D), Donald MacDonald (D), Kirst Grant

(D), Calum Morrison (D), Johanna Peters (D), Evelyn (D)

Govanhill: Alina Lingurar, Laura, Anna, Eva Nistorova

Oban: Beth Campbell, Stuart Head, Hannah Macdonald, Isla Head, Jonathan Head


Fort William: Ruaridh Byrne, Daniel MacLeod, Jochem Baak

Free North: Beth Crooks, Lizzie Tidey, Heather Montgomery, Finlay Jenkins, Rian Forsyth

Free North (Madras Street): Jordan Morrison, Chloe McMeechan, Elise Ayres, Danuta Karlisone, Finlay Jenkins,

Calum Jenkins, Caitlin Ayres, Hollie Smith

Greyfriars Stratherrick: Anne Mackinnon (M), Amy Murray, Kayleigh Watson, David Graham (D), Christina

Gleeson (D), Anna MacQueen (D), Reanne MacRae (D), Luke Davidson (D), Skye Currie, Leanne Maciver, Lewis

MacKenzie (D), Brodie Watson

Kilmallie: Siobhan Chambers, Rebekah Sarah Connolly, John Cummings, Martyn Denny, Michael Fallows, Lucy

Fraser, Graham Laidlaw, William Landsborough, Janie Patterson, Herbie Patterson, Jonathan McKay, Robbie Murray,

Owen Pescod

Knockbain: Debbie Hutchison (M), Samantha Hutchison (M), Sarah Oliver (M), Amy Renwick (M), Ruth Topping

(M), Rachel Urquhart (M)

Maryburgh and Killearnan: Ruaraidh Munro (D), Anna Maria Stewart (D)

Ferintosh: William Fraser, Kelsey MacNab, Issy MacRae, Elmarie Matheson, Sarah Matheson, Susanna Stewart,

Angus Davren, Bronwyn Mackenzie, Demi MacNab, Murray Stewart, Fergus Whitson, Talitha Matheson, Calum

Seaton, Emma Stewart, Julia Stewart

Urray and Strathconon: Connor Macleod, Rhona Urquhart, Ewan Macdonald, Sarah Macdiarmid

NORTHERN PRESBYTERY

Fearn: Rachel Mackay, Gillian MacKay, Ruth Allan, Hannah Allan

North Coast: Anna Magee, Murron Drennan

Rosskeen: Douglas, Hugh, Scott, Maria, Ewen, Dean



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Gairloch and Kinlochewe: Cameron Maclennan

Lochbroom and Coigach: Catriona Renwick, Gordon Urquhart, Isla Macdonald, Ellie Cunningham, Mairi Urquhart.

Poolewe and Aultbea: Carys Townsend, Cameron Walton

Portree: Rebekah Dickson, Abby Maclean, Joseph Moller, Emma Dickson, Hallie Miles-Shinnie, Mhairi Mackinnon,

Murdo MacLean, Eoin Urquhart, Corrina Coll, Finlay Turner, Fiona Macdonald, Fiona MacDonald, Mairead Urquhart,

Mairead Pentland, Natasha Macleod, John Gillies, Rachael Coll, Alice Dickson, Caitlin Maclean


Back: Andrew Ferguson (D), Reece Macritchie (D), Sandy Morrison (D), Euan Anderson (D), Calum Maclennan (D),

Hannah Macleod (D), Mairi Macrae (D), Johanna McCarthy (D), Caitlin Macdonald (D), Joel Martin (D), John Alasdair

Bain (D), James Mutch (D), Sophie Steven (D), Alison Smith (D)

Barvas: Jane Finlayson, Eilidh Macdonald, Joanna Maclean, Adam Maclean

Callanish: Eilidh Reid (D), Angus Macdonald (D), Luke Morrison (D), Uisdean Reid (D), Zara MacLean (D), Carmen

Finlayson (D), Cara Macdonald (D), Isla Macinnes

Cross: John Angus Mackay

Lochs: Donald MacLeod (D), Eilidh Wilson (D), Laura Hope (D), Laura Ann MacLeod (D)

North Tolsta: Marion Henderson, Alasdair MacMillan, John Angus Morrison, Kathryn Macleod

Pairc: Rachel Macritchie, Alice Maclennan, Alasdair Kennedy, Chloe Campbell, Calum Nicolson

Shawbost: Anna Macaulay (D), Katie Gillies (D), Cara Macdonald (D), Bethany Davidson (D), Ruairidh Maclennan

(D), Duncan Shirkie (M)

Stornoway: Matthew Hanlon (D), Megan MacSween (D)

Tong: Aaron Macleod, Ben Macmillan, Shana Macphail, Caitlin Macdonald, Joanna Moore, Donna Maciver, Steven

Macleod

BIBLE CLASS EXPLORATIONS Exploring Eric Liddell



Glasgow City: Kate Connor, Martha Stephen

Oban: Stewart Head, Isla Head


Greyfriars Stratherrick: Bethany Gleeson, Christina Gleeson, Jayne Morrison, Lewis Mackenzie, Luke Davidson,

Anna MacQueen

Maryburgh and Killearnan: Anna Munro, Ruaridh Munro, Anna Maria Stewart


Poolewe and Aultbea: Grant Walton, Calum Ruaraidh MacKenzie, Carys Townsend, Cameron Townsend

Lochbroom and Coigach: Judith Urquhart, Abby Middleton, Leah Cunningham, Mairi Ann Urquhart, Ellie

Cunningham


Crossbost: Laura Anne MacLeod

Shawbost: Bethany Davidson, Ruairidh Maclennan, Anna Macaulay, Ross Macdonald, Natalie Jane Mackay, Duncan

Shirkie, Cara Macdonald, Katie Gillies

Stornoway: Matthew Hanlon

Tong: Adam Finlayson, Tori Mackinnon, Heather Maciver, Eilidh Ferguson, Eilidh Macdonald




______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

1. The General Assembly receive and adopt the Report of the Home Missions Board: (E) Youth and the

Supplementary Report.

2. The General Assembly congratulate all the young people who have gained awards and certificates and who

have completed Explorations. They thank all the teachers for their devoted service in our Sunday Schools and Bible

Classes and parents for their valued support.

3. The General Assembly commend the “Pointing to Jesus” ideas and resource document all ministers, those in

church leadership, and Sunday school teachers to read the report.

4. The General Assembly welcome the launching of the Compass magazine to replace the Instructor. They thank

the Board for the work undertaken in the launch and also in the changes to the design of the magazine.

5. The General Assembly thank Mrs Irene Howat, the current editor of the Compass magazine, and Mrs Chris

Nicolson, the current editor of the Free magazine, and all those involved in producing magazines for our young people.

They commend the both magazines to all to parents and children.

6. The General Assembly further thank Mrs Irene Howat for the work undertaken overseeing the Free Church

Sunday School materials.

7. The General Assembly thank the Office staff, especially Mrs Sharon Fraser, who are responsible for

processing and distributing materials relating to the Sunday School syllabus.

8. The General Assembly thank the children, young people and parents for contributing so generously in raising

£3,660 for last year’s Youth Project – the Preshal Trust in Glasgow.

9. The General Assembly thank the Camps Supervisor, Mr Clive Bailey, and all who serve on the Camps

Working Group along with the Office staff who help with the Camps administration. They commend Mr Bailey to the

prayers of the Church.

10. The General Assembly thank Mrs Laura MacAulay for her work as Camps Administrator and commend her

to the prayers of the church. They congratulate Laura and Daniel on the birth of their second son, Alexander. They

thank Mrs Cat Mahato who has been employed as maternity cover for Laura during her absence from work.

11. The General Assembly also thank all leaders, cooks and others who have contributed to the success of last

year’s programme and urge congregations to be active in supporting the work of camps in prayer.

12. The General Assembly thank Deacons’ Courts and individuals who have contributed to sponsorship for

campers and leaders and encourage others who have not already done so to consider this form of financial support.

13. The General Assembly welcome the encouraging report of the first Leadership BootCamp held at Comrie

Croft, Perthshire, in June 2014. They thank the Board for proposals to continue the BootCamp project for this and

future years. They thank all those who helped to organise the BootCamp and all those who helped with its teaching

ministry. They commend the proposed 2015 BootCamp and the intending participants to the prayers of the Church.

14. The General Assembly thank the Youth Conference Committee for arranging this year’s Conference and

commend the new Committee to the prayers of the Church.

15. The General Assembly thank all those who arranged the Spring Conference and the Islands Study Conference

and commend all who attended to the prayers of the Church.

3 Order of the Day There was an Order of the Day at 7 pm.

The following Lyle-Orr Award prize-winners were introduced to the Moderator, suitably addressed, and presented with

their awards:

Mark Connor Glasgow City Infant Grade

Ealasaid MacLean Oban Junior Grade

Matthew Hanlon Stornoway Bible Class 1

Katie Gillies Shawbost Bible Class 2

At the request of the Moderator Rev. Douglas MacKeddie engaged in prayer.



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4 Psalmody and Praise The General Assembly then called for the Report of the Psalmody and Praise

Committee, which, being printed and in the hands of members, was referred to by Dr D. G. Mackay who addressed the



1. The General Assembly receive and adopt the Report of the Psalmody and Praise Committee and thank the

Committee for its work.

2. The General Assembly approve the Committee's terms of reference in the following terms:

1. To promote high standards of praise including encouragement and assistance with training

at congregational level, the promotion of workshops, the preparation and updating of praise manuals,

and the participation of ministers;

2. To report to the General Assembly on issues relating to the praise of the Church including

the balance between the Book of Psalms, other scriptures, canticles and hymns, the choice of versions

of the Psalms, other scriptures and hymns, issues of precenting and accompaniment;

3. To oversee the production and printing of praise manuals; copyright and use of materials by

other agencies; commercial and IT issues.

3. The General Assembly remind congregations that the Book of Psalms is a unique manual of praise, which

should be given a central place in our worship services. They again urge upon congregations and ministers a duty of

intelligent and skilful psalm-singing, and the maintenance overall of a high standard of praise.

4. The General Assembly note the publication of the third edition of Sing Scripture and commend it to the

Church. They thank all those who have helped to produce this valuable resource.

5. The General Assembly welcome the production of a staff version of Songs of the Spirit (supplementing the

sol-fa version) and encourage the use of this publication at congregational events such as guest services, youth work,

joint services and psalmody classes.

6. The General Assembly note the usefulness of the workshop service offered by the Committee to give practice

in precenting and in better congregational singing, and encourage the Church to make use of this facility.

7. The General Assembly encourage congregations to set up regular sessions for psalmody practice, with a view

to improving the standard of praise, learning any as yet unfamiliar items from Sing Psalms and Sing Scripture, and for

congregational fellowship.

8. The General Assembly support the Committee in its endeavours to promote an improved presence on the Free

Church website and commend the Praise pages on the website to the interest of the Church.

9. The General Assembly are thankful for the interest in Sing Psalms (and to a lesser extent Sing Scripture) being

shown by various churches in the UK and abroad.

At the request of the Moderator Rev. Robert Macleod engaged in prayer.

5 Petition: Rev. Ruairidh Maclean: Seat in Presbytery The General Assembly took up consideration

of a Petition from Rev. Ruairidh Maclean with supporting documents in the following terms:

Unto the Venerable the General Assembly indicted to meet at Edinburgh on 18th May 2015 the Petition of Rev.

Ruairidh MacLean to be granted a seat in the Presbytery of Glasgow and Argyll humbly shows that:

1. Whereas your Petitioner was previously Minister at Harris Free Church in a re-development charge for five

years;

2. Whereas a review of that congregation by the Presbytery of the Western Isles in 2013 recommended to the

Home Missions Board that the appointment be not renewed;



______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. Whereas the General Assembly following a recommendation from the Home Missions Board terminated your

Petitioner's appointment from 31st July 2013;

4. Whereas your Petitioner was appointed Scottish Deputation Secretary, C.W. I., in February 2014;

5. Whereas your Petitioner has relocated to East Kilbride and has been admitted as an Elder in the Free Church

there;

6. Whereas your Petitioner wishes to retain his links with the Free Church of Scotland and be available for supply

therein.

Wherefore may it please your Venerable Court to receive the Petition of the Rev. Ruairidh MacLean and grant him a

seat in the Presbytery of Glasgow and Argyll, whilst he resides within the bounds of the Presbytery in connection with

his current position as Scottish Deputation Secretary at C.W.I. and on condition that he reports annually to the

Presbytery of his Ministry with C.W.I.

Or do otherwise in your wisdom you may deem best.

And your Petitioner will ever pray.


The General Assembly receive the Petition of the Rev. Ruairidh Maclean and grant its crave. They grant Mr Maclean

a seat in the Presbytery of Glasgow and Argyll whilst he resides within the bounds of the Presbytery in connection with

his current position as Scottish Deputation Secretary at Christian Witness to Israel and on condition that he reports

annually to the Presbytery of his ministry with CWI.

6 Adjournment The General Assembly did then adjourn to meet again in this hall on Wednesday

at 9.30 o’clock forenoon, whereof public intimation having been given, the sederunt was closed with prayer.


Wednesday 20th May, Forenoon Session 4

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the 20th day of May 2015 years at 9.30 o’clock forenoon

1 Assembly Constituted The General Assembly did again convene and was constituted with devotional

exercises, when the following took part at the request of the Moderator:

Rev. A. J. Howat, Rev. John Ross, Mr Evan MacDonald, Mr Hugh Henderson, Rev. Dr P. J. Buys, Rev. James Maciver,

Rev. Ivor Macdonald, Mr Angus Macdonald, Rev. Thomas Davis and Rev. John H. MacLean.

2 Representatives from other Churches Rev. Bob Thomas, Presbyterian Church of Australia (Victoria),

was introduced to the Moderator and welcomed to the Assembly.

3 Assembly Greetings It was agreed that an expression of the Assembly’s sympathy and concern be sent

by the Moderator to the Macarthur family of Asher’s Bakery in Belfast on the light of the recent court judgement against

them.

4 Minutes The minutes of the previous day’s sederunt were read and approved.

5 Home Missions Board (A) – (D) The General Assembly then called for the Report of the Home Missions

Board, (A) – (D) which, being printed and in the hands of members, was referred to by the Chair who addressed the


It was agreed that (B) 1 and matters relating thereto be taken in private at the conclusion of the rest of the Report.

First Motion It was moved and seconded that:

(A) GENERAL

1. The General Assembly receive and adopt the Report of the Home Missions Board (A), (B), (C) and (D) and

thank the Board especially the Chairman, the Vice-Chairman, the Clerk, and the Missions Coordinator, Miss Sarah

Macleod. They commend Miss Macleod to the prayers of the Church as she takes on the administration work of the

proposed joint both Missions Boards.

2. The General Assembly thank the members and adherents of the Church who by their contributions have shown

their concern for the maintenance and furtherance of a gospel ministry throughout our land.

3. The General Assembly thank the Chief Administrative Officer, the Finance Manager, and members of the

Offices staff for their contribution to the work of the Board.

4. The General Assembly thank Rev. Neil MacMillan, Development Officer, for his Report and for his faithful

and versatile work on behalf of the Board over the whole period of his appointment. Noting the recommendation of the

Home Missions Board, they terminate the Development Officer’s post effective from 30th June 2015. They declare that

Mr MacMillan’s name be added to the Register of Ministers without Charge, and they instruct the Home Missions

Board to pay Mr MacMillan at the current rate of stipend for a period of six months from the expiry of his appointment

or until his induction to another charge if earlier, according to the terms of Act IX, Class II, 2012, Paragraph Missions,

1.8. The General Assembly repeal Act IX, Class II, 2012.

(B) GENERAL ASSEMBLY REMITS

1. The General Assembly thank Rev. Duncan Peters and his wife Christine for their work in Asian Outreach,

Glasgow. They terminate his appointment under the terms of Act XII, Class II, 2010, Act XVI, Class II, 1999, and Act

VII, Class II, 1997, and repeal the said Acts. They appoint Rev. Duncan Peters to the work of Asian Outreach in

Glasgow under the general terms of Act XV, Class II, 2013 anent Church Planting and Evangelism and in association

with the terms of the Board’s Project Development Plan in order to secure a self-supporting Church Plant congregation

under the blessing of Almighty God. They declare the appointment to be continuous with his original induction to the

work. They instruct the Board in consultation with the Presbytery to appoint suitable members to an Advisory

Committee to provide day-to-day management for the work until such time as Assessor Elders have been appointed by

the Presbytery of Glasgow and Argyll to form a Kirk Session with a specific and committed interest to the development

of cross-cultural ministry. They further instruct the Board to make suitable arrangements for the funding of the work

as required by Act XV, Class II, 2013, Paragraph 4, and they direct the Board to report to the 2016 General Assembly

on such arrangements and on proposals for the overall financial strategy for the mission work of the Church. They



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declare that the funding of the Asian Outreach work will continue according to the current arrangements until such time

as the 2016 General Assembly rules on revised funding arrangements in the context of the Board’s overall financial

strategy for mission work.

2. The General Assembly thank the Home Missions Board for work done liaising with the Board of Ministry to

identify suitably gifted church planters and evangelists who are eager to bring the good news to communities with little

or no gospel witness, and also liaising with the Edinburgh Theological Seminary Board to develop training suitable to

church planters and evangelists at the Seminary. They welcome the training initiatives carried out in association with

Porterbrook Scotland and under the guidance of Rev. Neil MacMillan. They instruct the Board to (i) continue its


planters and evangelists; (ii) to co-operate with 20 Schemes to consider ways in which the Missions Board of the Free


in Scotland; and (iii) to report on its progress to the 2016 General Assembly.

(C) MINISTRY

1. The General Assembly give thanks for the diligent work undertaken in all Church Extension Charges,

Redevelopment Charges, Special Arrangements Charges and Locally Subsidised Charges. They call on the Church to

continue in prayerful support of the work in these congregations.

2. The General Assembly note the terms of Act XI, Class II, 2010 renewing the redevelopment status of the

congregation of Glenurquhart and Fort Augustus and declare that the current five-year term of redevelopment status be

extended to the date of the March 2016 Commission of Assembly. They empower the said Commission of Assembly

to receive a report from the Home Missions Board on future ministry at Glenurquhart and Fort Augustus as required

by Paragraph 5 of Act XXXIV, Class II, 1988 anent Redevelopment Charges. They instruct the Presbytery of Inverness,

Lochaber and Ross to proceed without delay to prepare such a report so that it is in the hands of the Missions Board by

1st December 2015.





will be filled.

4. The General Assembly note the outcome of the review of North Coast Team Ministry completed by the

Northern Presbytery and they receive the Petition of the Presbytery and, noting the recommendation of the Home

Missions Board, they grant its crave. They terminate the North Coast Team Ministry arrangements with effect from

30th June 2015. They thank all the members of the Team for their faithful ministry in the area since the Team’s

inception. With effect from the same date: (1) they terminate the appointment of Rev. Howard Stone to the North Coast

Team Ministry according to the requirements of Act I, Class I, 2011 anent Team Ministries. They declare that

Castletown and Community congregation be granted Alternative Ministerial Arrangements according to the provisions

of Act XIII, Class II, 2014 and according to the terms of the Ministry Development Plan agreed by the Presbytery, the

congregation and the Home Missions Board, and under the ministry of Rev. Howard Stone with his appointment

continuous with his previous induction to the charge; (2) they grant the congregation of Thurso and North Coast the

status of a fully sanctioned charge with permission to call a minister without restriction according to the provisions of

Act I, Class I, 2013 anent Sustentation Fund. They terminate the appointment of Rev. Hugh Ferrier to the North Coast

Team Ministry according to the requirements of Act I, Class I, 2011 anent Team Ministries with his name being added

to the Register of Ministers without Charge, Eligible for Call; (3) they instruct the Northern Presbytery to proceed

immediately to take the necessary and appropriate steps to fill the vacancy in the fully sanctioned charge of Thurso and

North Coast in order to secure the continuity of Rev. Hugh Ferrier’s ministry there should that be the will of the

congregation; (4) they grant the congregation of Wick and Keiss permission to call a minister on a five-year terminable,

renewable appointment according to the provisions of Act I, Class I, 2013 anent Sustentation Fund with all the costs of

ministry funded from reserves held by the congregation and with the Ministry Levy payable from the date of induction

of a minister; (5) they also grant Helmsdale and Kinbrace permission to call a minister on a five-year terminable,

renewable appointment according to the provisions of Act I, Class I, 2013 anent Sustentation Fund, with the financial

arrangements such that the congregation is required to remit at least 100% of the stipend payable from the date of the

induction of a minister and should there be any shortfall from the requirements of the ministry and administration levies,

the Northern Presbytery shall seek to secure the balance via local support or by way of an application to the

Development Fund; and (6) they terminate the appointment of Mr James Morrison as Auxiliary Worker for the Team

and direct that he be paid at the rate of 80% of the current stipend until the end of December 2015. They instruct the

Northern Presbytery to provide pastoral support to Mr Morrison and to investigate the possibility of arriving at a local



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ministry arrangement in Lybster whereby he could continue to serve the Church. The General Assembly repeal Act

VIII, Class II, 2011.

5. The General Assembly give thanks for the work of Rev. Norman Mackay at the G51 Church Plant in Govan,

Glasgow. They also give thanks for the practical and prayerful support of this work and call on the Church to continue

in such support of Mr Mackay and his work.

6. The General Assembly thank the members of the Evangelism Support Working Party for the help and support

given to various congregations engaged in evangelistic outreach. They commend the work of the group to the interest

and prayers of the Church and invite congregations who can benefit from such help and support to approach the

Working Party.

7. The General Assembly receive the Petition of the Presbytery of Glasgow and Argyll: Covenant Church,

Newmilns and, noting the recommendation of the Home Missions Board, grant its crave. They grant the body of

Christians worshipping in Covenant Church, Newmilns, the status of a fully sanctioned pastoral charge of the Free

Church of Scotland with immediate effect. They declare that the new congregation shall be known as Covenant Church,

Newmilns (Free Church of Scotland) within the Presbytery of Glasgow and Argyll. They instruct the Presbytery of

Glasgow and Argyll to meet in hunc effectum at Dowanvale Free Church, Glasgow on Tuesday 2nd June 2015 at 6.30

pm (i) to appoint general assessor elders to the Kirk Session so that the congregation may proceed to an election and

ordination of office-bearers as soon as practically possible; and (ii) to appoint a meeting with the congregation for a

diet of public worship to welcome them formally into the Presbytery. They direct the congregation to submit a

Sustentation Fund Schedule to the Home Missions Board with income-based confirmation of their ability to meet the

full costs of ministry. They grant authority to the newly established congregation thereafter to proceed to call a minister

without restriction according to the provisions of Act I, Class I, 2013 anent Sustentation Fund, Paragraph 3.3.

8. The General Assembly receive the Petition of the Presbytery of Edinburgh and Perth: Ministry at Cobham

and, noting the recommendation of the Home Missions Board, grant its crave. They terminate the current arrangements

for ministry at Cobham effective from 1st July 2015. They thank Rev. David D. Miller for his unstinting and faithful

service during his twelve years as minister there. They sever Rev. David D. Miller’s pastoral tie with the congregation

on the said date, adding his name to the Register of Ministers without Charge, and declare that he shall be eligible for

six months stipend from the date of termination according to the provisions of Act I, Class I, 2013 anent Sustentation

Fund paragraph 6.3.5, or until his induction to another charge, whichever is sooner. They declare that the congregation

of Cobham be dissolved effective from 1st July 2015. They instruct the Presbytery of Edinburgh and Perth to ensure

that suitable arrangements are in place for the pastoral support of those affected by the dissolution of the congregation.

They further instruct the Kirk Session and Deacons Court at Cobham to take immediate steps to consult with the

Presbytery of Edinburgh and Perth and with the Board of Trustees with a view to dissolving the charity known as

Cobham Presbyterian Church prior to the dissolution of the congregation on 1st July 2015. They declare that any

outstanding issues regarding the termination of the charitable status of Cobham on the said date be taken up by the

Board of Trustees. They repeal Act XIX, Class II, 2013. They repeal Act XIX, Class II, 2013.

9. The General Assembly receive the Petition of the Presbytery of Glasgow and Argyll: Assistantship,

Dowanvale, and, noting the recommendation of the Home Missions Board, grant its crave. They grant permission to

the congregation of Dowanvale to appoint an Assistant Minister in accordance with the terms of Act XVIII, Class II,

2013 anent Assistantships, such permission to lapse at the General Assembly of 2017.

10. The General Assembly receive the Petition of the Northern Presbytery: Assistantship, Rosskeen, and, noting

the recommendation of the Home Missions Board, grant its crave. They grant permission to the congregation of

Rosskeen to reappoint Rev. Calum Macmillan as Assistant Minister for a further three-year term in accordance with


11. The General Assembly thank the Presbytery of the Western Isles for the ongoing consultation with the

congregation of Harris regarding future ministry in the congregation. They authorise the October 2015 Commission of

Assembly to receive a report from the Home Missions Board regarding arrangements for ministry at Harris.

(D) FINANCE

1. The General Assembly note with thankfulness that all congregations granted unrestricted permission to call a

minister had met their Scheduled commitment to the costs of ministry in terms of the requirement of Act I, Class I,

2013 anent Sustentation Fund, Paragraphs 3.10 and 3.11 regarding congregational remittances.



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2. The General Assembly note that references to the percentage of stipend in paragraphs 3.10 and 3.11 of Act I,

Class I, 2013 anent Sustentation Fund are now obsolete and declare that the Home Missions Board should only report

on cases where a review has been initiated in consultation with the Presbytery.

3. The General Assembly approve of the ongoing efforts of the Board to fulfil the requirements of Act XV,

Class II, 2010, with regard to Centrally Supported Ministries.

Second Motion It was also moved and seconded that Deliverance (C) Section 8 be amended to read:

The General Assembly receive the Petition of the Presbytery of Edinburgh and Perth: Ministry at Cobham and, noting

the recommendation of the Home Missions Board, grant its crave to the extent that they declare the congregation of

Cobham to be financially non-viable. They thank Rev. David D. Miller for his unstinting and faithful service during

his twelve years as minister there. They sever Rev. David D. Miller’s pastoral tie with the congregation on the said

date, adding his name to the Register of Ministers without Charge, and declare that he shall be eligible for six months

stipend from the date of termination according to the provisions of Act I, Class I, 2013 anent Sustentation Fund

paragraph 6.3.5, or until his induction to another charge, whichever is sooner. They instruct the Presbytery of Edinburgh

and Perth to complete the consultation process to satisfy the requirements of Act I, Class I, 2013, paragraphs 6.1.5 and

6.2.1 and to report on the completed consultation to the October 2015 Commission of Assembly. They further instruct

the Presbytery to meet as soon as possible after the rising of the Assembly in order to initiate the said process.

4. Petition: Presbytery of Glasgow and Argyll: North-East Glasgow Team Ministry

The General Assembly took up consideration of a Petition from the Presbytery of Glasgow and Argyll with supporting

extract in the following terms:

(1) Petition

To the General Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland indicted to meet on 18th May 2015 the Petition of the

Presbytery of Glasgow and Argyll humbly shows:

1. Whereas the Commission of Assembly by Act I, October 2012, created a Team Ministry comprising the

congregations of Bishopbriggs, Coatbridge, Cumbernauld and Lennoxtown, in terms of Act I, 2011;

2. Whereas the Team Ministry came into effect on 1st January 2013 with three ministers according to the Team

Ministry Plan;

3. Whereas two of the three ministers retired on 31st December 2013 leaving two vacancies in the Team;

4. Whereas with the agreement of the Home Missions Board the Team Ministry Plan was thereafter revised so

that it was agreed to fill the vacancies by the appointment of one minister and one presbytery worker;

5. Whereas the arrangement has now been existence for nearly half of its five year course and will come to an

end if not extended in December 2017;

6. Whereas it is proving very difficult to find ministers or presbytery workers willing to accept appointment to

the Team Ministry with such a short period remaining until their appointment expires when there is no guarantee of

continuation;

7. Whereas the filling of these posts is now therefore a matter of urgency if the Team Ministry is to operate

successfully;

8. Whereas there is currently no financial impediment to filling the posts;

9. Whereas the Presbytery of Glasgow and Argyll has agreed to fund any shortfall in funding;

10. Whereas Act I, 2011, did not envisage a casual vacancy arising in the team ministry so as to give rise to this

difficulty and made no provision to remedy this;

Wherefore the Presbytery of Glasgow and Argyll humbly requests the General Assembly to take these premises into

consideration and, noting the particular circumstances of this vacancy to which Act I, 2011, provides no remedy, to



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waive the requirements of Act I, 2011, § 5.5 to the extent (1) in the event of the Team Ministry arrangement being

terminated at the end of the current five-year period, any minister appointed hereafter may then be appointed to one of

the constituent congregations in the Team Ministry for the remainder of the period of his terminable appointment

subject to the submission by the Presbytery of a suitable ministerial plan to the satisfaction of the Home Missions Board

and a guarantee that the congregation is able to meet the Direct Cost of Ministry, or that any shortfall will be met by

the Presbytery in terms of Act XIV, 2013; (2) that similarly any presbytery worker appointed shall be permitted to


Board.

Third Motion It was moved and seconded that:

The General Assembly receive the Petition of the Presbytery of Glasgow and Argyll and grant its crave. Noting the

particular circumstances of this vacancy to which Act I, 2011, provides no remedy, they waive the requirements of Act

I, 2011, § 5.5 to the extent (1) in the event of the Team Ministry arrangement being terminated at the end of the current

five-year period, any minister appointed hereafter may then be appointed to one of the constituent congregations in the

Team Ministry for the remainder of the period of his terminable appointment subject to the submission by the Presbytery

of a suitable ministerial plan to the satisfaction of the Home Missions Board and a guarantee that the congregation is

able to meet the Direct Cost of Ministry, or that any shortfall will be met by the Presbytery in terms of Act XIV, 2013;

(2) that similarly any presbytery worker appointed shall be permitted to complete his three–year term on the provision

of similar funding guarantees to the satisfaction of the Home Missions Board.

The General Assembly met in private.

The General Assembly took up consideration of the Report of the Home Missions Board (B) 1: Asian Outreach.

Forth Motion It was moved and seconded that:

The General Assembly thank Rev. Duncan Peters and his wife Christine for their work in Asian Outreach, Glasgow.

They terminate his appointment under the terms of Act XII, Class II, 2010, Act XVI, Class II, 1999, and Act VII, Class

II, 1997, and repeal the said Acts. They appoint Rev. Duncan Peters to the work of Asian Outreach in Glasgow under

the general terms of Act XV, Class II, 2013 anent Church Planting and Evangelism and in association with the terms

of the Board’s Project Development Plan in order to secure a self-supporting Church Plant congregation under the

blessing of Almighty God. They declare the appointment to be continuous with his original induction to the work.

They instruct the Board in consultation with the Presbytery to appoint suitable members to an Advisory Committee to

provide day-to-day management for the work until such time as Assessor Elders have been appointed by the Presbytery

of Glasgow and Argyll to form a Kirk Session with a specific and committed interest to the development of cross-

cultural ministry. They further instruct the Board to make suitable arrangements for the funding of the work as required

by Act XV, Class II, 2013, Paragraph 4, and they direct the Board to report to the 2016 General Assembly on such

arrangements and on proposals for the overall financial strategy for the mission work of the Church. They declare that

the funding of the Asian Outreach work will continue according to the current arrangements until such time as the 2016

General Assembly rules on revised funding arrangements in the context of the Board’s overall financial strategy for

mission work.

Fifth Motion It was also moved and seconded that:

The General Assembly thank Rev. Duncan Peters and his wife Christine for their dedicated work in Asian Outreach,

Glasgow for the past 16 years. In light of the unique and long term nature of the work in Asian Outreach and the need

for more meaningful consultation and discussion about its future, they postpone approval of the proposed Asian

Outreach Development Plan until it can be reviewed by the new Missions Board in consultation with concerned parties.

The continue the appointment of Mr Peters for a further year under the current funding arrangements, extending Acts

XII, 2010, and Act VII, 1997 for this purpose, the work to be managed by the Glasgow and Argyll’s Presbytery Asian

Outreach Management Committee in liaison with the proposed new Mission Board. They further instruct the Board to

bring proposals for the future of the work to the General Assembly of 2016.

On a note being taken between the Fifth Motion and the Fourth Motion, the Forth Motion was declared carried by a

majority.

The General Assembly met in public.

With the permission of the General Assembly, the Chairman accepted the Second Motion and the Third Motion.



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Finding Wherefore:

(A) GENERAL

1. The General Assembly receive and adopt the Report of the Home Missions Board (A), (B), (C) and (D) and

thank the Board especially the Chairman, the Vice-Chairman, the Clerk, and the Missions Coordinator, Miss Sarah

Macleod. They commend Miss Macleod to the prayers of the Church as she takes on the administration work of the

proposed joint Missions Boards.

2. The General Assembly thank the members and adherents of the Church who by their contributions have shown

their concern for the maintenance and furtherance of a gospel ministry throughout our land.

3. The General Assembly thank the Chief Administrative Officer, the Finance Manager, and members of the

Offices staff for their contribution to the work of the Board.

4. The General Assembly thank Rev. Neil MacMillan, Development Officer, for his Report and for his faithful

and versatile work on behalf of the Board over the whole period of his appointment. Noting the recommendation of the

Home Missions Board, they terminate the Development Officer’s post effective from 30th June 2015. They declare that

Mr MacMillan’s name be added to the Register of Ministers without Charge, and they instruct the Home Missions

Board to pay Mr MacMillan at the current rate of stipend for a period of six months from the expiry of his appointment

or until his induction to another charge if earlier, according to the terms of Act IX, Class II, 2012, Paragraph Missions,

1.8. The General Assembly repeal Act IX, Class II, 2012.

(B) GENERAL ASSEMBLY REMITS

1. The General Assembly thank Rev. Duncan Peters and his wife Christine for their work in Asian Outreach,

Glasgow. They terminate his appointment under the terms of Act XII, Class II, 2010, Act XVI, Class II, 1999, and Act

VII, Class II, 1997, and repeal the said Acts. They appoint Rev. Duncan Peters to the work of Asian Outreach in

Glasgow under the general terms of Act XV, Class II, 2013 anent Church Planting and Evangelism and in association

with the terms of the Board’s Project Development Plan in order to secure a self-supporting Church Plant congregation

under the blessing of Almighty God. They declare the appointment to be continuous with his original induction to the

work. They instruct the Board in consultation with the Presbytery to appoint suitable members to an Advisory

Committee to provide day-to-day management for the work until such time as Assessor Elders have been appointed by

the Presbytery of Glasgow and Argyll to form a Kirk Session with a specific and committed interest to the development

of cross-cultural ministry. They further instruct the Board to make suitable arrangements for the funding of the work

as required by Act XV, Class II, 2013, Paragraph 4, and they direct the Board to report to the 2016 General Assembly

on such arrangements and on proposals for the overall financial strategy for the mission work of the Church. They

declare that the funding of the Asian Outreach work will continue according to the current arrangements until such time

as the 2016 General Assembly rules on revised funding arrangements in the context of the Board’s overall financial

strategy for mission work.

2. The General Assembly thank the Home Missions Board for work done liaising with the Board of Ministry to

identify suitably gifted church planters and evangelists who are eager to bring the good news to communities with little

or no gospel witness, and also liaising with the Edinburgh Theological Seminary Board to develop training suitable to

church planters and evangelists at the Seminary. They welcome the training initiatives carried out in association with

Porterbrook Scotland and under the guidance of Rev. Neil MacMillan. They instruct the Board to (i) continue its


planters and evangelists; (ii) to co-operate with 20 Schemes to consider ways in which the Missions Board of the Free


in Scotland; and (iii) to report on its progress to the 2016 General Assembly.

(C) MINISTRY

1. The General Assembly give thanks for the diligent work undertaken in all Church Extension Charges,

Redevelopment Charges, Special Arrangements Charges and Locally Subsidised Charges. They call on the Church to

continue in prayerful support of the work in these congregations.

2. The General Assembly note the terms of Act XI, Class II, 2010 renewing the redevelopment status of the

congregation of Glenurquhart and Fort Augustus and declare that the current five-year term of redevelopment status be

extended to the date of the March 2016 Commission of Assembly. They empower the said Commission of Assembly

to receive a report from the Home Missions Board on future ministry at Glenurquhart and Fort Augustus as required

by Paragraph 5 of Act XXXIV, Class II, 1988 anent Redevelopment Charges. They instruct the Presbytery of Inverness,



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Lochaber and Ross to proceed without delay to prepare such a report so that it is in the hands of the Missions Board by

1st December 2015.





will be filled.

4. The General Assembly receive the Petition of the Presbytery of Glasgow and Argyll and grant its crave.

Noting the particular circumstances of this vacancy to which Act I, 2011, provides no remedy, they waive the

requirements of Act I, 2011, § 5.5 to the extent (1) in the event of the Team Ministry arrangement being terminated at

the end of the current five-year period, any minister appointed hereafter may then be appointed to one of the constituent

congregations in the Team Ministry for the remainder of the period of his terminable appointment subject to the

submission by the Presbytery of a suitable ministerial plan to the satisfaction of the Home Missions Board and a

guarantee that the congregation is able to meet the Direct Cost of Ministry, or that any shortfall will be met by the

Presbytery in terms of Act XIV, 2013; (2) that similarly any presbytery worker appointed shall be permitted to


Board.

5. The General Assembly note the outcome of the review of North Coast Team Ministry completed by the

Northern Presbytery and they receive the Petition of the Presbytery and, noting the recommendation of the Home

Missions Board, they grant its crave. They terminate the North Coast Team Ministry arrangements with effect from

30th June 2015. They thank all the members of the Team for their faithful ministry in the area since the Team’s

inception. With effect from the same date: (1) they terminate the appointment of Rev. Howard Stone to the North Coast

Team Ministry according to the requirements of Act I, Class I, 2011 anent Team Ministries. They declare that

Castletown and Community congregation be granted Alternative Ministerial Arrangements according to the provisions

of Act XIII, Class II, 2014 and according to the terms of the Ministry Development Plan agreed by the Presbytery, the

congregation and the Home Missions Board, and under the ministry of Rev. Howard Stone with his appointment

continuous with his previous induction to the charge; (2) they grant the congregation of Thurso and North Coast the

status of a fully sanctioned charge with permission to call a minister without restriction according to the provisions of

Act I, Class I, 2013 anent Sustentation Fund. They terminate the appointment of Rev. Hugh Ferrier to the North Coast

Team Ministry according to the requirements of Act I, Class I, 2011 anent Team Ministries with his name being added

to the Register of Ministers without Charge, Eligible for Call; (3) they instruct the Northern Presbytery to proceed

immediately to take the necessary and appropriate steps to fill the vacancy in the fully sanctioned charge of Thurso and

North Coast in order to secure the continuity of Rev. Hugh Ferrier’s ministry there should that be the will of the

congregation; (4) they grant the congregation of Wick and Keiss permission to call a minister on a five-year terminable,

renewable appointment according to the provisions of Act I, Class I, 2013 anent Sustentation Fund with all the costs of

ministry funded from reserves held by the congregation and with the Ministry Levy payable from the date of induction

of a minister; (5) they also grant Helmsdale and Kinbrace permission to call a minister on a five-year terminable,

renewable appointment according to the provisions of Act I, Class I, 2013 anent Sustentation Fund, with the financial

arrangements such that the congregation is required to remit at least 100% of the stipend payable from the date of the

induction of a minister and should there be any shortfall from the requirements of the ministry and administration levies,

the Northern Presbytery shall seek to secure the balance via local support or by way of an application to the

Development Fund; and (6) they terminate the appointment of Mr James Morrison as Auxiliary Worker for the Team

and direct that he be paid at the rate of 80% of the current stipend until the end of December 2015. They instruct the

Northern Presbytery to provide pastoral support to Mr Morrison and to investigate the possibility of arriving at a local

ministry arrangement in Lybster whereby he could continue to serve the Church. The General Assembly repeal Act

VIII, Class II, 2011.

6. The General Assembly give thanks for the work of Rev. Norman Mackay at the G51 Church Plant in Govan,

Glasgow. They also give thanks for the practical and prayerful support of this work and call on the Church to continue

in such support of Mr Mackay and his work.

7. The General Assembly thank the members of the Evangelism Support Working Party for the help and support

given to various congregations engaged in evangelistic outreach. They commend the work of the group to the interest

and prayers of the Church and invite congregations who can benefit from such help and support to approach the

Working Party.

8. The General Assembly receive the Petition of the Presbytery of Glasgow and Argyll: Covenant Church,

Newmilns and, noting the recommendation of the Home Missions Board, grant its crave. They grant the body of



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Christians worshipping in Covenant Church, Newmilns, the status of a fully sanctioned pastoral charge of the Free

Church of Scotland with immediate effect. They declare that the new congregation shall be known as Covenant Church,

Newmilns (Free Church of Scotland) within the Presbytery of Glasgow and Argyll. They instruct the Presbytery of

Glasgow and Argyll to meet in hunc effectum at Dowanvale Free Church, Glasgow on Tuesday 2nd June 2015 at 6.30

pm (i) to appoint general assessor elders to the Kirk Session so that the congregation may proceed to an election and

ordination of office-bearers as soon as practically possible; and (ii) to appoint a meeting with the congregation for a

diet of public worship to welcome them formally into the Presbytery. They direct the congregation to submit a

Sustentation Fund Schedule to the Home Missions Board with income-based confirmation of their ability to meet the

full costs of ministry. They grant authority to the newly established congregation thereafter to proceed to call a minister

without restriction according to the provisions of Act I, Class I, 2013 anent Sustentation Fund, Paragraph 3.3.

9. The General Assembly receive the Petition of the Presbytery of Edinburgh and Perth: Ministry at Cobham

and, noting the recommendation of the Home Missions Board, grant its crave to the extent that they declare the

congregation of Cobham to be financially non-viable. The instruct the Presbytery of Edinburgh and Perth to complete

the consultation process to the requirements of Act I, Class I, 2013 anent Sustentation Fund paragraph 6.1.5 and 6.2.1

and to report on the completed consultation to the October 2015 Commission of Assembly. They further instruct the

Presbytery to meet as soon as possible after the rising of the Assembly in order to initiate the said process.

10. The General Assembly receive the Petition of the Presbytery of Glasgow and Argyll: Assistantship,

Dowanvale, and, noting the recommendation of the Home Missions Board, grant its crave. They grant permission to

the congregation of Dowanvale to appoint an Assistant Minister in accordance with the terms of Act XVIII, Class II,

2013 anent Assistantships, such permission to lapse at the General Assembly of 2017.

11. The General Assembly receive the Petition of the Northern Presbytery: Assistantship, Rosskeen, and, noting

the recommendation of the Home Missions Board, grant its crave. They grant permission to the congregation of

Rosskeen to reappoint Rev. Calum Macmillan as Assistant Minister for a further three-year term in accordance with


12. The General Assembly thank the Presbytery of the Western Isles for the ongoing consultation with the

congregation of Harris regarding future ministry in the congregation. They authorise the October 2015 Commission of

Assembly to receive a report from the Home Missions Board regarding arrangements for ministry at Harris.

(D) FINANCE

1. The General Assembly note with thankfulness that all congregations granted unrestricted permission to call a

minister had met their Scheduled commitment to the costs of ministry in terms of the requirement of Act I, Class I,

2013 anent Sustentation Fund, Paragraphs 3.10 and 3.11 regarding congregational remittances.

2. The General Assembly note that references to the percentage of stipend in paragraphs 3.10 and 3.11 of Act I,

Class I, 2013 anent Sustentation Fund are now obsolete and declare that the Home Missions Board should only report

on cases where a review has been initiated in consultation with the Presbytery.

3. The General Assembly approve of the ongoing efforts of the Board to fulfil the requirements of Act XV, Class

II, 2010, with regard to Centrally Supported Ministries.

6 Covenant Church, Newmilns Mr Angus Steel, a member of the present eldership in Covenant Church,

Newmilns was introduced to the Moderator.

7 Order of the Day There was an Order of the Day for the reception of Delegates.

The following Delegates were introduced to the Moderator and invited to address the Assembly:

Rev. Robert Johnstone Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Ireland

Ms Elaine Duncan Scottish Bible Society

Rev. Dr P. J.Buys Reformed Churches in South Africa

Rev. Fred Drummond Evangelical Alliance

Rev. Thomas Dreyer Reformed Churches in South Africa

8 Adjournment The General Assembly did then adjourn to meet again in this Hall at 6.30 o’clock

evening whereof public intimation having been given, the sederunt was closed with prayer.



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.


the 20th day of May 2015 years at 6.30 o’clock evening


Wednesday 20th May, Evening Session 5

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2 Supplementary Report: Home Missions Board: Ecumenical Relations The General Assembly took

up consideration of a Supplementary Report from the Home Missions Board in the following terms:

It has been a very productive year as far as meaningful ecumenical relations have been concerned. The committee have

changed the emphasis in that they now focus on the development of organic relationships with other churches rather

than on relations which are perceived to be on a more formal basis. In practical terms we shall still exchange letters

with like-minded denominations but we shall place more emphasis on developing local networking.

The following contacts and initiatives are noteworthy:

Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches (FIEC) A meeting was held with Rev. Andy Hunter

the Scotland Director of the FIEC. At present this is a small grouping with less than 20 churches but it is growing. The

links with FIEC are being further strengthened through discussions regarding accessing the resources at Edinburgh

Theological Seminary. Contact with FIEC churches (Charlotte Chapel, and Niddrie Community Church) through the

East of Scotland Gospel Partnership has proved to be fruitful.

Niddrie Community Church and the wider work of Twenty Schemes has been an excellent platform in training our

people in evangelism and church planting in our most deprived areas. A number of our students have had significant

contact with Twenty Schemes.

Associated Presbyterian Churches (Scotland) There has been one meeting with the APC which was helpful.

The APC is a small denomination with less than 300 members. They are noted for having a catholicity of spirit and

this along with the fact that we share a similar view of subscription to the Westminster Confession of Faith has led us

to seek closer relations and even discuss union. The need for closer ties is highlighted by the fact that the two

denominations operate often smaller struggling churches in the same locality.

Scottish Reformed Churches Forum This was an initiative of the APC which brought together representatives

of the following Scottish Churches: Free Church of Scotland, Associated Presbyterian Churches, Free Church of

Scotland (Continuing) and the International Presbyterian Church. There have been several meetings of this grouping

under the able and gracious chairmanship of Rev Ian Hamilton of Cambridge. There was initial enthusiasm for this but

momentum seems to have been lost during the last year. A joint statement was agreed by all parties apart from the

FCC.

Affinity We are thankful for contact with other gospel centred churches and organisations in the UK. We are

represented at all the Affinity council meetings which take place in London twice a year. Affinity has been an important

platform for networking and sharing information. We are delighted to recommend the Affinity website at

www.affinity.org.uk which is a significant resource as well as containing news about developments within Affinity.

We are pleased to welcome the new Chairman of Affinity Rev. Paul Spear and also to thank the Director Rev. Peter

Milsom and his assistant, Rev. Matthew Evans for all that they do.

International Conference of Reformed Churches (ICRC) We continue as members of the ICRC. The

Free Church of Scotland are founder members of the ICRC and are supportive of its aims and objectives.

The next conference is expected to be held in Ontario, Canada in 2017.

World Reformed Fellowship The World Fellowship of Reformed Churches (WFRC) was formed in 1994 by

the Presbyterian Church in America, the National Presbyterian Church of Mexico, the Presbyterian Church of Brazil,

and connected evangelical denominations from most of the countries of Latin America plus churches in India, East

Africa and the United States. The International Reformed Fellowship (IRF) was also organized in 1994 to join

evangelical Reformed leaders from Korea, Indonesia, Taiwan, Japan, and all across Asia.

The WRF was formed to encourage understanding and cooperation among evangelical Presbyterian and Reformed

denominations and institutions, and to link those institutions having ministry resources with those possessing vision

but few resources. The fellowship promotes Reformed thinking, a Reformed world and life view, fosters evangelism

http://www.affinity.org.uk/



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and strategies on missions, church planting and theological education, and promotes international communication for

the further advancement of the Gospel.

The doctrinal position of WRF is stated as follows:

‘WRF stresses that, unlike other international bodies which have sought to unite Reformed Christians, WRF is a

fellowship, not a council. Councils tend to require tight agreement doctrinally or in polity, or focus on mutual

declarations of an academic nature. WRF is designed to surmount difficulties caused by geographic, cultural, or

linguistic barriers and to offer a gathering point where Reformed leaders can grow to know one another and then work

out mutually beneficial cooperative agreements. WRF provides one level of fellowship for denominations and another

for agencies, institutions, lay persons and leaders. Each member will naturally agree with the following:

1. We affirm the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as the authoritative, God-breathed and inerrant Word

of God.

2. We stand in the mainstream of the historic Christian Faith in affirming the following creeds of the early

Church: the Apostles' Creed, the Nicene Creed, and the Chalcedon Creed.

3. More specifically, every member must affirm one of the following historic expressions of the Reformed Faith:

the Gallican, the Scots, the Belgic, or the Heidelberg Catechism Confessions; the Canons of Dort, the Westminster

Confessions of Faith, the London Confessions of 1689, and the Savoy Declaration.’

4. We have had increasing contact with the WRF. Rev. Dr Fergus MacDonald and Rev. Dr John Nicholls are

both on the Board of Directors. Fergus MacDonald attended their fourth General Assembly held in Sau Paulo, Brazil

in March of this year. We already have a formal link with the WRF as the Edinburgh Theological Seminary is a member

and many of our ministers are personal members. It is simple to become a personal member, there is a membership

application which is easily accessible on the web site.

5. We recommend that the Free Church of Scotland apply to join the WRF as a means to extend our ecumenical

reach.

Local Initiatives There have been a number of local initiatives. The following are some just some examples

from the many our local congregations are involved in.

Joint Pentecost Service held in Culloden, Inverness A number of churches in the parish unite together

under a very simple basis of faith for those who take part (UCCF doctrinal basis).

Dundee Evangelical Christian Alliance (DECA) Evangelical church leaders meet monthly for prayer and lunch

and the churches meet annually for a joint service.

In Dornoch the leadership of the FCS and Dornoch Christian Fellowship have met together for prayer, the two

congregations have had one joint evening service and a joint Christmas carol service. This is a great example of how

two fellowships which perhaps did not have the best of relationships in the past are now moving on in unity and

reconciliation.

Glenurquhart are involved in an annual Picnic and praise event at the historic Urquhart Castle on the shore of Loch

Ness. They also have a monthly united prayer meeting, alternatively hosted by the Free Church and the Church of

Scotland which brings together Free Church, Church of Scotland and Episcopalian evangelicals.

The Gairloch and District outreach group (GDO) comprises of leaders from Poolewe and Aultbea Free Church,

Gairloch and Kinlochewe Free Church and Gairloch and Dundonnell Church of Scotland. GDO arrange pulpit swaps,

joint service, various evangelistic initiatives and an annual communion service.

In Aberdeen Bon Accord Free Church join with Gilcomston Church and Hebron Evangelical Church to run a children’s

holiday club during the summer holiday.

The Committee would be glad to both encourage and advise other congregations who wish to organise similar events.



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Legislation It is hoped to review the existing legislation regarding the various categories of relationships which

we have with other denominations. We expect to present this new legislation to the General Assembly of 2016.

Future Possibilities The Committee are always open to suggestions regarding new ecumenical partners. It is

proposed to contact the Presbyterian Church of Ireland to establish more meaningful contact. The committee noted the

growing strength of evangelicalism within the PCI and wish to discuss matters of mutual interest. There is also a

proposal to establish links with the Presbyterian Church of Brazil. In recent days we have had contact with the church

of Central Africa, Presbyterian (CCAP) in Malawi, with the Livingstonia Synod.


PROPOSED DELIVERANCE

1. The General Assembly receive and adopt the Report of the Ecumenical Relations Committee of the Home

Missions Board and thank the Chairman and members for their work.

2. The General Assembly thank the Committee for their diligence in promoting good relations with Churches

and organisations in the UK and abroad.

3. The General Assembly thank Rev. Dr Fergus MacDonald for attending the fourth General Assembly of the

World Reformed Fellowship held in Sau Paulo, Brazil in March, 2015.

4. The General Assembly agree to the Free Church of Scotland applying to join the World Reformed Fellowship

as a denominational member.

5. The General Assembly are thankful for the continued ministry and encouragement of Affinity and express

their thankfulness for the service of its director, Rev. Peter Milson, the assistant to the director, Rev. Matthew Evans

and the new Council Chairman, Rev. Paul Spear.

6. The General Assembly thank Rev. David Meredith for representing the Free Church of Scotland on the

Affinity Council.

7. The General Assembly thank Rev. Dr John Ross, Rev. David Meredith and Rev. Dr Malcolm Maclean who

met with representatives of the Associated Presbyterian Churches in Scotland (APC). They extend their best wishes

and prayerful interest in the APC and encourage further talks with them.

8. The General Assembly thank Rev. Dr Iain D. Campbell, Rev. David Meredith and Rev. Dr Malcolm Maclean

for their attendance at the Scottish Reformed Churches forum. They thank Rev. Ian Hamilton for his gracious chairing

of the forum. They await further developments with interest.

9. The General Assembly thank Rev. Dr Malcolm Maclean for his attendance at the General Assembly of the

PCA in 2014.

10. The General Assembly are thankful for the development of the work of the Fellowship of Independent

Evangelical Churches (FIEC) and look forward to closer co-operation with them, especially in Scotland. They

commend the work of the national director, Rev. John Stevens and the Scottish director, Rev. Andy Hunter to the

prayers of the denomination.

11. The General Assembly are thankful to God for the work of Twenty Schemes in the most socially deprived

areas of Scotland. They commend the initiative to the prayers of our people and offer their continued prayerful support

to Rev. Mez McConnell and his team.

12. The General Assembly note with thankfulness the various local ecumenical initiatives throughout Scotland,

the rest of the UK and internationally. They encourage the development of such activities where there is clear gospel

intentionality and a commitment to core evangelical principles.

13. The General Assembly note the proposed revision of categories of relationships which we have with various

denominations and bodies and anticipate legislation to be presented to the General Assembly of 2016.



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14. The General Assembly note the possibilities of greater contact with the Presbyterian Church of Ireland, The

Presbyterian Church of Brazil and the church of Central Africa, Presbyterian (CCAP) in Malawi, with the Livingstonia

Synod. They encourage the Board and the Committee to pursue these possibilities.

3 Seminary Board The General Assembly then called for the Report of the Seminary Board

which, being printed and in the hands of members, was referred to by the Chairman who addressed the Assembly

thereanent.


1. The General Assembly receive and adopt the Report, and thank the Board for its work, especially the Chairman

and Vice-Chairman.

2. The General Assembly express their thankfulness to God for the full-time staff of Edinburgh Theological

Seminary and for their commitment to and competency in teaching the Reformed Faith. They also thank God for the

visiting lecturers and their contribution to the instruction of students. They commend the work of the Seminary to the

prayers of the Church.

3. The General Assembly thank Rev. Iver Martin for functioning as part-time Principal for the past two years

and for providing wise and enthusiastic leadership of the Seminary.

4. The General Assembly acknowledge their deep gratitude to Stornoway Free Church for the sacrifice they have

been called to make while their Pastor has been working as part-time Principal of the Seminary.

5. The General Assembly thank the Seminary Secretary, Mrs Heather Watson, for her enthusiastic and dedicated

work for the Board and in the Seminary. They also thank Mr Colin Morrison for his cheerfulness, competence and

commitment to his work as Property Officer.

6. The General Assembly are gratified with the increase in number of students participating in the various

programmes of study offered by the Seminary.

7. The General Assembly are grateful for the good relations between the Seminary and Glasgow University.

8. The General Assembly commend the Seminary Board for producing a flexible Five Year Plan and thank the

Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Professor John Angus Macleod and Rev. Fergus Macdonald for their contributions.

9. The General Assembly commend the Board and the Seminary for the intention to have a Mission Centre in

the Seminary.

10. The General Assembly note the Board’s plans to provide larger study areas in the Seminary and encourage

this development as soon as possible.

11. The General Assembly commend the Board and Seminary for the intention to have a Distance Learning

Facility in the Seminary.

12. The General Assembly recognise the need for the Seminary to have an IT Administrator to oversee the

Seminary’s use of computer technology. The General Assembly also thank Professor John Angus Macleod for being

responsible for IT maintenance and development for the last several years.

13. The General Assembly encourage the Seminary to provide Office-Bearer Training modules.

14. The General Assembly regard with interest the intention to produce an on-line journal connected to the

Seminary and encourage the Board to proceed with this.

15. The General Assembly commend the Fundraising and Marketing Committee for its various initiatives to

increase public awareness of ETS, including ETS Roadshow events. The General Assembly also express its gratitude

to Sharon Macleod for designing the Seminary leaflets and brochures, and Catriona Stewart for providing suitable

photographs.

16. The General Assembly approve the following regulations for the appointment of Principal to Edinburgh

Theological Seminary:



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1. The Resignation of the Principal

A Principal who is due to retire, or who intends to resign from his duties, shall intimate this fact, whenever possible, to

the Seminary Board by 1st May of the year which precedes his final year in office.

2. The Remit of the New Principal

On receiving notice of such intention to retire, or on a vacancy otherwise occurring in the Principalship, the Board shall

consider the remit of the Principal in the light of the most recent revision of the Five-year Plan and make any necessary

adjustments.

3. Nominations for the New Principal

The Seminary Board shall write to Presbyteries informing them of the impending vacancy in the office of Principal,

drawing attention to the terms of the Remit and the following requirements and asking for two nominations:

3.1. The remit of the Principal is to further the key mission objectives of the Seminary.

3.2. In fulfilment of these objectives, the Principal’s remit shall normally include co-ordination, administration,

supervision and part-time teaching internally, and representation, promotion of the Seminary and its mission objectives

externally.

3.3. All suitable candidates must subscribe to the whole doctrine contained in the Westminster Confession of Faith

and be ordained ministers in the Free Church of Scotland.

3.4. As the remit of the Principal will normally including part-time teaching and supervision within the

undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, the Seminary Board must ensure that the teaching of core subjects is

carried out by staff who are suitably qualified at postgraduate level, in terms of Act XXVI, 2014 and reformed in

doctrine, worship and practice.

3.5. The Principal is expected to uphold the witness, dignity and prestige of the Seminary without detriment to

good relations, and also takes note of any actions or proposed actions on the part of others that could either benefit or

prejudice the Seminary.

3.6. Any new additions to the remit arising from the review of the key mission objectives contained in the

Edinburgh Theology Seminary Vision Five-year Plan mentioned above.

4. Interviews for New Principal

4.1. The Seminary Board shall appoint an interview panel from its own members, and identify a suitable list of

candidates for interview from the nominations listed above, in addition to any new Seminary Board nominees.

4.2. Upon completion of all interviews the interviewing panel will make a recommendation to the Seminary Board.

If the Seminary Board agrees with the recommendation, the successful candidate will be informed as soon as possible

as to the Board’s decision and asked to accept the appointment within a timeframe set by the Board.

5. Appointment of New Principal

In the event of his willingness to take up the appointment, and if the appointee is already an ordained minister of the

Free Church of Scotland, he will be inducted to the position by the Presbytery of Edinburgh and Perth after following

a procedure on the analogy of a call to a pastoral charge, all parties retaining the right of Appeal or Dissent and

Complaint to the General Assembly. The new Principal will be granted a seat on the Presbytery of Edinburgh and Perth.

6. Remuneration



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A full time Principal will be remunerated at a salary set by the Seminary Board in keeping with its budget constraints.

The total remuneration package of a Principal must not be less than that of a minister in a pastoral charge in the Free

Church of Scotland.

7. Terms of Appointment

The newly appointed Principal must sign Terms of Appointment as agreed by the Seminary Board.

8. Term of Office

The term of office for a Principal will normally be five years, renewable with the consent of the Principal and the

Seminary Board.

9. Call to Principal

In the event of a Principal of the Seminary accepting a Call to a pastoral charge, the Presbytery of Edinburgh and Perth

are empowered to loose him from his charge. The Presbytery shall immediately inform the Seminary Board of such a

Call.

Rev Andy Hunter, Scottish Secretary, FIEC, was introduced to the Moderator and welcomed to the Assembly.

4 Supplementary Report: Seminary Board: Appointment of Principal The General Assembly called for

the Supplementary Report of the Seminary Board, in the following terms, which being printed and in the hands of

members, was referred to by the Chairman who addressed the Assembly thereanent.

The 2013 General Assembly appointed Rev. Iver Martin, minister of Stornoway Free Church of Scotland, to serve as

part-time Principal of the Free Church College for two years. During that period, the name was changed to Edinburgh

Theological Seminary (ETS). The temporary arrangement for the Principalship ceases with this year’s General

Assembly.

In line with legislation requirements, the Seminary Board asked Presbyteries for nominations for the next Principal.

Each Presbytery could nominate two persons. The Seminary Board, when making this request, informed the

Presbyteries that it intended to ask this year’s General Assembly to appoint a full-time Principal.

The nominations from the Presbyteries were as follows:

Northern Rev. Iver Martin

Glasgow and Argyll Rev. Iver Martin, Rev. Dr Iain D. Campbell

Skye and Wester Ross Rev. Iver Martin, Professor John Angus Macleod

Western Isles Rev Iver Martin, Rev. Dr Iain D. Campbell

Edinburgh and Perth Rev. Iver Martin

Inverness, Lochaber and Ross Rev. Iver Martin, Rev. Dr Malcolm Maclean

Rev. Dr Iain D. Campbell, Professor John Angus Macleod and Rev. Dr Malcolm Maclean each withdrew their names.

As can be seen from the list of nominations, Rev. Iver Martin is a unanimous choice from the Presbyteries (the Seminary

Board did not receive a response from the American Presbyteries).

The Seminary Board unanimously agrees with the nomination of Rev. Iver Martin for the position of full-time Principal

of Edinburgh Theological Seminary.

MALCOLM MACLEAN, Chairman

Finding It was moved, seconded and agreed that

1. The General Assembly receive and adopt the Supplementary Report of the Seminary Board and thank the

Board.

2. The General Assembly appoint Rev. Iver Martin, B.Sc. as Principal of Edinburgh Theological Seminary in

accordance with current legislation.



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3. The General Assembly hereby release Mr Martin from his present pastoral charge at Stornoway Free Church

and instruct the Presbytery of Edinburgh and Perth to take the necessary steps to induct him to the post of Principal of

Edinburgh Theological Seminary not later than 7th September 2015, his relationship to his present charge to continue

until he be inducted to the post aforesaid.

4. The General Assembly grant Rev. Iver Martin a seat on the Presbytery of Edinburgh and Perth from the date

of his induction for as long as he remains Principal of Edinburgh Theological Seminary.

5. The General Assembly direct that in the event of the termination of Mr Martin’s appointment his name shall

be placed on the Register of Ministers Without Charge Eligible for Call and he shall receive his remuneration for a

period of six months from that date or until such time as he receives a new appointment, whichever is sooner.

The Moderator intimated the finding of the General Assembly to Rev. Iver Martin. Mr Martin stated his willingness to

accept the appointment.

At the request of the Moderator Rev. James Maciver engaged in prayer.

Mr Norman Macleod, elder at Stornoway, expressed the good wishes of the Kirk Session and congregation of

Stornoway on Mr Martin’s appointment.

5 Presentation: Seminary Board A presentation promoting the Edinburgh Theological Seminary was

made.

6 Petition: Presbytery of Inverness, Lochaber and Ross: Union of Kilmorack and Kiltarlity

The General Assembly took up consideration of a Petition from the Presbytery of Inverness, Lochaber and Ross in the

following terms:

Unto the Venerable the General Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland, appointed to meet in Edinburgh on 18th

May 2015, the Petition of the Presbytery of Inverness, Lochaber and Ross humbly shows that:

1. Whereas the Free Church congregation in Beauly (Kilmorack) has been under the control of those who left the

Free Church in January 2000, and the congregation of Kilmorack and Strathglass was consolidated with Glen Urquhart

and Fort Augustus Free Church in May 2008;

2. Whereas the church building at Fasnakyle (Strathglass) was subsequently disposed of and the resultant funds

were disbursed for gospel purposes;

3. Whereas the church building and manse at Beauly (Kilmorack) remain occupied by the FCC congregation and

it is desirable to resolve matters of disputed property in the near future;

4. Whereas the nearest Free Church congregation, located at Kiltarlity, has experienced growth and now has a full

time pastor and properly functioning local church courts, and the Kiltarlity and Kirkhill Free Church does not own a

manse for the use of their pastor, and the congregation is minded to extend its outreach work into the Beauly community;

5. Whereas the Presbytery recommend to all interested parties that the former congregation of Kilmorack and

Strathglass be disjoined from the congregation of Glen Urquhart and Fort Augustus, and that the congregation of

Kiltarlity and Kirkhill be united with Kilmorack and Strathglass, under one Kirk Session and Deacons’ Court, the new

united congregation to be known as Kiltarlity, Kirkhill and Beauly Free Church, with freedom to use whatever name

seems best for local publicity purposes;

6. Whereas the Presbytery recommend that steps be taken to resolve matters of disputed property; and to facilitate

this Presbytery recommend that Permission be given to the congregation to take steps to reclaim, sell, lease or otherwise

dispose of the property in Beauly in the interests of the gospel and for the good of the congregation;

7. Whereas the congregations of Glen Urquhart and Fort Augustus and of Kiltarlity and Kirkhill have been

consulted and have agreed to the terms of this petition;

Wherefore your Petitioners request that your Venerable Court disjoin the former congregation of Kilmorack and

Strathglass from Glen Urquhart and Fort Augustus Free Church and unite the former congregation of Kilmorack and

Strathglass with Kiltarlity and Kirkhill Free Church, the united congregation to be known formally as Kiltarlity, Kirkhill



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and Beauly Free Church, with freedom to use whatever name seems best for local publicity purposes, the united

congregation having one Kirk Session and one Deacons’ Court.

Furthermore your Petitioners request that authority be granted to the united congregation to reclaim, sell, lease or

otherwise dispose of the property in Beauly in the interests of the gospel and for the good of the congregation, any

transaction to be carried out under the oversight of the Free Church legal officer, and that any capital released and any

interest payable upon the capital shall be held by the Trustees on behalf of the congregation, with the interest and capital

being made available to the congregation on due application for the provision of a manse or for other congregational

purposes.

Or do otherwise, as your Venerable Court may be pleased to order.


The General Assembly receive the Petition of the Presbytery of Inverness, Lochaber and Ross and grant its crave.

(1) They disjoin the former congregation of Kilmorack and Strathglass from Glenurquhart and Fort Augustus Free

Church and unite the former congregation of Kilmorack and Strathglass with Kiltarlity and Kirkhill Free Church, the

united congregation to be known formally as Kiltarlity, Kirkhill and Beauly Free Church, with freedom to use whatever

name seems best for local publicity purposes, the united congregation having one Kirk Session and one Deacons’ Court.

(2) Furthermore they authorise the united congregation to reclaim, sell, lease or otherwise dispose of the property

in Beauly in the interests of the gospel and for the good of the congregation, any transaction to be carried out under the

oversight of the Free Church legal officer, and that any capital released and any interest payable upon the capital to be

held by the Trustees on behalf of the congregation, with the interest and capital being made available to the congregation

on due application for the provision of a manse or for other congregational purposes.

7 Adjournment The General Assembly did then adjourn to meet again in this Hall on Thursday at

9.30 o’clock forenoon, whereof public intimation having been given, the sederunt was closed with prayer.



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the 21st day of May 2015 years at 9.30 o’clock forenoon



2 Minutes The minutes of the previous day’s sederunts were read and approved.

3 Board of Ministry The General Assembly then called for the Report of the Board of Ministry

which, being printed and the in the hands of members, was referred to by the Chairman who addressed the


First Motion: It was moved, seconded and agreed that:

1. The General Assembly receive and adopt the report and thank the Board, especially the Chairman, Vice-

Chairman, and the Clerk.

2. The General Assembly give thanks to Almighty God that he continues to call and equip men for the

ministry of the Church. They encourage congregations to be diligent in supporting prayerfully and practically all

students and their families, and those entrusted with training.

3. The General Assembly thank Rev. Dr David Ford and Mr George Maclean for coordinating the recent

In-Service Training Course. The Assembly further thank Mr Donald MacDonald for his generosity in providing,

at a much reduced cost, accommodation and meals at the Holyrood Hotel.

4. The General Assembly remind Presbyteries to take great care when processing Applications for the

Ministry, to ensure that referees have the knowledge to make judgements on an applicant’s character and skills,

following up references where necessary, and making a proper assessment of the applicant’s giftedness for

teaching, preaching, inter-personal skills, Christian character and temperament.

5. The General Assembly instruct the Board of Ministry to investigate with the Seminary Board and Senate

the possibility of creating a Diploma or Licentiate award for candidates on modified courses who will not qualify

for a BTh award.

6. The General Assembly, in view of the ongoing uncertainty of the church scene in Scotland at present,

waive the requirement of Act XXXV, 2005, that authority to grant admission to ministers of other denominations

lies solely with the General Assembly and empowers the Commission of Assembly at its meetings before the

General Assembly of 2016, to receive and dispose of any such applications seeking admission to the Free Church

ministry duly submitted through Presbyteries and the Board of Ministry.

7. The General Assembly note the advice of the Board of Ministry on routes into ministry and endorse the

Board’s policy that it shall no longer be the normal requirement for applicants under the age of thirty to possess a

qualification at degree level prior to being accepted as a candidate for the ministry. The General Assembly direct

the Board of Ministry to advise each applicant individually on the best course of action to take preparatory to

obtaining formal training for the ministry.

8. The General Assembly instruct the Board of Ministry to consult the Missions Board and the Presbyteries

of the Church on appropriate routes into ministry and the varying types of ministry model that are biblical and

necessary for the health of the church.


Apprenticeship training and instruct the Board of Ministry to consult with Presbyteries and other Boards as

appropriate and to bring forward proposals on Ministry Apprenticeship training to the 2016 General Assembly.

10. The General Assembly approve of proposals to give candidates for the ministry increased opportunities

to learn and gain skills and experience in pastoral work through involvement in local churches during term time.

The General Assembly repeal the preamble to Act XX § 6, 1985 and Act XX § 6.II.10, 1985, relating to the

number of times students are permitted to preach and instruct the Board of Ministry to keep the frequency of



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student’s preaching under regular review in conjunction with the Pastoral Theology department at Edinburgh

Theological Seminary.

11. The General Assembly approve of the general principles set out in Appendix Two to the report of the

Board of Ministry anent Scripture Examinations and presbyterial oversight of candidates for the ministry, namely

that an annual written scripture examination shall be set and marked by the Board of Ministry, covering the whole

Bible in three years, with some biblical books set for private study and some set for written examination and that

presbyteries shall examine candidates orally on the doctrine of Shorter Catechism and the Westminster Confession

of Faith and on books in practical and pastoral theology recommended by the Board of Ministry according to a

three year schedule. The General Assembly enact and ordain that these shall be the regulations for Scripture

Examinations and Presbytery oversight of students from this General Assembly, and empower the Board of

Ministry to modify and publish amended regulations from time to time consistent with these general principles.

Candidates already under the care of a Presbytery may elect to follow the previous syllabus for Presbytery

oversight for one year only, by arrangement with their Presbytery. The General Assembly repeal Act XXXVI,

2011, Act XXVI 2003, Act XXIII, 2002, and any other Acts inconsistent with this new Act.

12. The General Assembly encourage ministers to consider studying for a post-graduate qualification in

theology, to consider a short course of Sabbatical Studies at Edinburgh Theological Seminary and remind them

of provision in legislation to take an extended Sabbatical Study Leave.

13. The General Assembly note that a Panel of Pastoral Care has been appointed by the Board of Ministry,

and is available to give advice and support to ministers and their families. The General Assembly thank the

members of the panel (Rev. Angus MacRae, Rev. James Maciver, Rev. Robert MacLeod, Rev. D. Iain

MacDonald, Dr Martin Walker, Dr Colin Mackay and Mrs Helen Mackay) and commend the Panel and Presbytery

Pastoral Panels to the prayers of the church.

14. The General Assembly note the advice of the Board of Ministry regarding arrangements for the Licence

of students. The General Assembly enact and ordain an Act anent Licensing of Candidates for the Ministry, as

follows:

The General Assembly, recognising that only those who are duly qualified should be licensed to preach the gospel

ordain that:

1. A student applying for licence shall inform the Clerk of their presbytery and the clerk to the Board of

Ministry, normally by 31st December in the year prior to licence. No student should be taken on trials for licence

unless the Clerk to the Board of Ministry has circulated a minimum notice of three months to each presbytery.

2. If no objection is received from any presbytery before 30th April, or as a minimum within three months

of notice being given, the licensing presbytery shall be entitled to proceed.


3.1 The Presbytery shall meet in private when discussing each stage in the process;

3.2 If the student has been resident outwith the bounds of the Presbytery they shall satisfy themselves that

the applicant is a proper person to be taken upon trials for licence;

3.3 No student shall be taken on trials for licence who is under twenty-one years of age;

3.4 No student shall be taken on trials for licence unless he has been a communicant member of the Free

Church of Scotland (or a sister church) for a minimum period of two years prior to the date of his being taken on

trials, or unless the presbytery has satisfied itself with the bona fides of the candidate and has obtained the

agreement of the Board of Ministry to proceed;

4. Any presbytery that objects to the licensing of an applicant shall be entitled to send representatives to

state its objections at the bar of the presbytery to which the student has applied. These objections shall be heard

when the presbytery is considering the motion to proceed to trials. If these representatives find themselves unable

to acquiesce in the presbytery’s decision they shall have the right to appeal; and such an appeal shall automatically

sist procedure until a final decision is pronounced by the superior court.



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5.1 A completion certificate from the Senate of Edinburgh Theological Seminary indicating that the

applicant has satisfactorily completed his studies, including the Free Church Ministry Module; and that his

conduct, so far as is known to the Senate, is consistent with the high office he has in view;

5.2 A completion certificate from the Board of Ministry;

5.3 A copy of his Seminary Dissertation duly sustained. At its discretion the Presbytery may also ask for

copies of any essays or assignments submitted by the student as part of his programme of studies.

6. The Presbytery shall satisfy itself that the student is competent to preach and conduct public worship,

and shall normally arrange for the student to conduct public worship, including sermon, and shall appoint

representative to attend and report on the competence of the student. If they report themselves dissatisfied, the

presbytery shall resolve to proceed no further and inform the student that they cannot grant him a licence in his

present circumstances.


Seminary Senate and the Board of Ministry as to his academic proficiency. Trials should accordingly normally

consist of oral examination, making appropriate use of the Dissertation and other written assignments submitted

by the student. Trials should seek to establish that the student is in a position honestly and intelligently to sign the

Formula and is a proper person to be eligible for a call to a charge. The trials should establish that:

7.1 The student has a well-informed grasp of the whole doctrine of the Confession of Faith and is prepared

to subscribe to it unreservedly;

7.2 He sincerely and intelligently adheres to the principles of the Free Church of Scotland;

7.3 He has a sound working knowledge of the Practice of the Free Church of Scotland and is able to play a

part in church courts;

7.4 He has an evangelistic vision and sense of mission such that “zeal for the honour of God, love to Jesus

Christ, and desire of saving souls” are “his great motive and chief inducement to enter the holy ministry”;

7.5 He has sufficient experience of human life, sufficient sympathy with his people and knowledge of

practical theology to enable him to lead, counsel, encourage and warn the people of God;

7.6 He is firmly committed to maintaining the unity and peace of the Church and does not pursue practices

likely to be divisive.


8.1 It shall take a careful and combined view of the trials;

8.2 If it forms the opinion that the student is not properly qualified to sign the Formula and to perform the

duties of a minister of the Gospel it shall not grant him a licence. Since the Presbytery are the sole hearers of the

trials (and therefore the only party competent to judge them) its decision shall be final. No member of the court

shall have the right of Dissent and Complaint; and neither the student nor any other party shall have the right of

Appeal. The Moderator of Presbytery shall, however, inform the student that he has the right to apply to be taken

on trials again by this, or any other, presbytery of the Church, subject to the provisions of Paragraph 3 (2) above;

8.3 If, upon review of the trials, the Presbytery is fully satisfied with the student, the Moderator shall inform

him and the presbytery shall record the decision in its Minutes;

8.4 The Presbytery shall then meet in open court;

8.5 The Presbytery shall then, or at a later public meeting of Presbytery, put to the student the Questions

appointed for Probationers by Act XII, 1846. Having given satisfactory answers, the presbytery shall require the



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student to subscribe the Formula. No student shall be licensed will not give explicit and satisfactory answers and

subscribe the Formula;

8.6 The Moderator, in the name and by the authority of the presbytery, shall solemnly license the student as

a preacher of the Gospel; and the presbytery clerk shall issue him an extract of his Licence;

8.7 Within one week the Clerk of Presbytery shall forward the name and address of the licentiate, with the

date of his Licence, to the Principal Clerk of the General Assembly.

9. The General Assembly repeal Act XX, 2001, and any Acts not consistent with this Act and declare that

this Act contains the whole of the Assembly’s directions relating to the Trials of Students and the Licensing of

Probationers.

10. To ensure that this Act is observed, the General Assembly ordain: that it shall be printed among their

other printed Acts; that it shall be made available by itself and copies shall be placed on appropriate websites and

lodged with the Edinburgh Theological Seminary Senate and in the Seminary Library; and that a copy shall be

transmitted annually by the Clerk to the Board of Ministry, and at the commencement of the Seminary session, to

every candidate for the ministry who is entering his final year of study at Edinburgh Theological Seminary; and

a copy shall likewise be sent to Presbytery Clerks for the use of their respective courts and members.

Second Motion: It was also moved and seconded that:

Amendment Part 1

Remove the following paragraph from Appendix 2 after the heading Syllabus of titles on Practical and Pastoral

theology for Presbytery Annual Oral Examinations:

Students may elect to arrange with their Presbytery to take this examination in the summer prior to entering each

session at ETS, or to take this examination in January mid-way through each year of study at ETS at the time of

the annual Scripture Examination.

Amendment Part 2 (Addendum Part 1)

Insert the following into Appendix 2 after ‘Westminster Confession’ in introductory paragraph 2:

‘Presbyteries shall complete their examination of students by 31st August annually in order to furnish the

Secretary of the Senatus with the relevant certificate showing that the student has passed the examination before

entering on the first and subsequent years of studies at the Seminary.’

Amendment Part 2 (Addendum Part 2)

Proposed Addendum to Deliverance Paragraph 11:

The General Assembly, recognising the key role of the Presbytery in the ongoing assessment of students for the

ministry, instruct Presbyteries to complete the examination of students by 31st August annually in order to furnish

the Secretary of the Senatus with the certificate required by Act XX, Class II, 1985 as amended by Act XXII,

Class II, 2002, Section III – Certificates and Examination of Students, Paragraphs 1 and 3, prior to entrance to the

first and subsequent years of their studies at the Edinburgh Theological Seminary.

Third Motion: It was also moved and seconded that:

The following addendum be added to the Deliverance:

The General Assembly instruct the Board of Ministry, through its Panel of Pastoral Care, to consult with

Presbyteries as to how a more effective and practical support can be provided for ministers and their families

during periods of long-term absence from work through ill-health. They further instruct the Board to formulate a

policy on the pastoral care of ministers, on the completion of the said consultation, showing (i) the role of the

Panel in relation to the Presbytery’s Pastoral Support Committees; (ii) a plan for the pastoral care of ministers and

their families; (iii) how such a plan will be implemented; and (iv) how the implementation of such a plan will be

monitored, assessed and reviewed.

With the permission of the General Assembly, the Chairman accepted the Third Motion.



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On a vote being taken between the Second Motion and the First Motion, the First Motion was declared carried

by a majority.

Finding: It was moved, seconded and agreed that:

1. The General Assembly receive and adopt the Report and thank the Board, especially the Chairman, Vice-

Chairman, and the Clerk.

2. The General Assembly give thanks to Almighty God that he continues to call and equip men for the

ministry of the Church. They encourage congregations to be diligent in supporting prayerfully and practically all

students and their families, and those entrusted with training.

3. The General Assembly thank Rev. Dr David Ford and Mr George Maclean for coordinating the recent

In-Service Training Course. The Assembly further thank Mr Donald MacDonald for his generosity in providing,

at a much reduced cost, accommodation and meals at the Holyrood Hotel.

4. The General Assembly remind Presbyteries to take great care when processing Applications for the

Ministry, to ensure that referees have the knowledge to make judgements on an applicant’s character and skills,

following up references where necessary, and making a proper assessment of the applicant’s giftedness for

teaching, preaching, inter-personal skills, Christian character and temperament.

5. The General Assembly instruct the Board of Ministry to investigate with the Seminary Board and Senate

the possibility of creating a Diploma or Licentiate award for candidates on modified courses who will not qualify

for a BTh award.

6 The General Assembly, in view of the ongoing uncertainty of the church scene in Scotland at present,

waive the requirement of Act XXXV, 2005, that authority to grant admission to ministers of other denominations

lies solely with the General Assembly and empowers the Commission of Assembly at its meetings before the

General Assembly of 2016, to receive and dispose of any such applications seeking admission to the Free Church

ministry duly submitted through Presbyteries and the Board of Ministry.

7. The General Assembly note the advice of the Board of Ministry on routes into ministry and endorse the

Board’s policy that it shall no longer be the normal requirement for applicants under the age of thirty to possess a

qualification at degree level prior to being accepted as a candidate for the ministry. The General Assembly direct

the Board of Ministry to advise each applicant individually on the best course of action to take preparatory to

obtaining formal training for the ministry.

8. The General Assembly instruct the Board of Ministry to consult the Missions Board and the Presbyteries

of the Church on appropriate routes into ministry and the varying types of ministry model that are biblical and

necessary for the health of the church.


Apprenticeship training and instruct the Board of Ministry to consult with Presbyteries and other Boards as

appropriate and to bring forward proposals on Ministry Apprenticeship training to the 2016 General Assembly.

10. The General Assembly approve of proposals to give candidates for the ministry increased opportunities

to learn and gain skills and experience in pastoral work through involvement in local churches during term time.

The General Assembly repeal the preamble to Act XX § 6, 1985 and Act XX § 6.II.10, 1985, relating to the

number of times students are permitted to preach and instruct the Board of Ministry to keep the frequency of

student’s preaching under regular review in conjunction with the Pastoral Theology department at Edinburgh

Theological Seminary.

11. The General Assembly approve of the general principles set out in Appendix Two to the report of the

Board of Ministry anent Scripture Examinations and presbyterial oversight of candidates for the ministry, namely

that an annual written scripture examination shall be set and marked by the Board of Ministry, covering the whole

Bible in three years, with some biblical books set for private study and some set for written examination and that

presbyteries shall examine candidates orally on the doctrine of Shorter Catechism and the Westminster Confession

of Faith and on books in practical and pastoral theology recommended by the Board of Ministry according to a

three year schedule. The General Assembly enact and ordain that these shall be the regulations for Scripture

Examinations and Presbytery oversight of students from this General Assembly, and empower the Board of



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Ministry to modify and publish amended regulations from time to time consistent with these general principles.

Candidates already under the care of a Presbytery may elect to follow the previous syllabus for Presbytery

oversight for one year only, by arrangement with their Presbytery. The General Assembly repeal Act XXXVI,

2011, Act XXVI 2003, Act XXIII, 2002, and any other Acts inconsistent with this new Act.

12. The General Assembly encourage ministers to consider studying for a post-graduate qualification in

theology, to consider a short course of Sabbatical Studies at Edinburgh Theological Seminary and remind them

of provision in legislation to take an extended Sabbatical Study Leave.

13. The General Assembly note that a Panel of Pastoral Care has been appointed by the Board of Ministry,

and is available to give advice and support to ministers and their families. The General Assembly thank the

members of the panel (Rev. Angus MacRae, Rev. James Maciver, Rev. Robert MacLeod, Rev. D. Iain

MacDonald, Dr Martin Walker, Dr Colin Mackay and Mrs Helen Mackay) and commend the Panel and Presbytery

Pastoral Panels to the prayers of the church.

The General Assembly further instruct the Board of Ministry, through its Panel of Pastoral Care, to consult with

Presbyteries as to how a more effective and practical support can be provided for ministers and their families

during periods of long-term absence from work through ill-health. They further instruct the Board to formulate a

policy on the pastoral care of ministers, on the completion of the said consultation, showing (i) the role of the

Panel in relation to the Presbytery’s Pastoral Support Committees; (ii) a plan for the pastoral care of ministers and

their families; (iii) how such a plan will be implemented; and (iv) how the implementation of such a plan will be

monitored, assessed and reviewed.

14. The General Assembly note the advice of the Board of Ministry regarding arrangements for the Licence

of students. The General Assembly enact and ordain an Act anent Licensing of Candidates for the Ministry, as

follows:

The General Assembly, recognising that only those who are duly qualified should be licensed to preach the

gospel ordain that:

1. A student applying for licence shall inform the Clerk of their presbytery and the clerk to the Board of

Ministry, normally by 31st December in the year prior to licence. No student should be taken on trials for licence

unless the Clerk to the Board of Ministry has circulated a minimum notice of three months to each presbytery.

2. If no objection is received from any presbytery before 30th April, or as a minimum within three months

of notice being given, the licensing presbytery shall be entitled to proceed.


3.1 The Presbytery shall meet in private when discussing each stage in the process;

3.2 If the student has been resident outwith the bounds of the Presbytery they shall satisfy themselves that

the applicant is a proper person to be taken upon trials for licence;

3.3 No student shall be taken on trials for licence who is under twenty-one years of age;

3.4 No student shall be taken on trials for licence unless he has been a communicant member of the Free

Church of Scotland (or a sister church) for a minimum period of two years prior to the date of his being taken on

trials, or unless the presbytery has satisfied itself with the bona fides of the candidate and has obtained the

agreement of the Board of Ministry to proceed;

4. Any presbytery that objects to the licensing of an applicant shall be entitled to send representatives to

state its objections at the bar of the presbytery to which the student has applied. These objections shall be heard

when the presbytery is considering the motion to proceed to trials. If these representatives find themselves unable

to acquiesce in the presbytery’s decision they shall have the right to appeal; and such an appeal shall automatically

sist procedure until a final decision is pronounced by the superior court.




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5.1 a completion certificate from the Senate of Edinburgh Theological Seminary indicating that the applicant

has satisfactorily completed his studies, including the Free Church Ministry Module; and that his conduct, so far

as is known to the Senate, is consistent with the high office he has in view;

5.2 a completion certificate from the Board of Ministry;

5.3 a copy of his Seminary Dissertation duly sustained. At its discretion the Presbytery may also ask for

copies of any essays or assignments submitted by the student as part of his programme of studies.

6. The Presbytery shall satisfy itself that the student is competent to preach and conduct public worship,

and shall normally arrange for the student to conduct public worship, including sermon, and shall appoint

representative to attend and report on the competence of the student. If they report themselves dissatisfied, the

presbytery shall resolve to proceed no further and inform the student that they cannot grant him a licence in his

present circumstances.


Seminary Senate and the Board of Ministry as to his academic proficiency. Trials should accordingly normally

consist of oral examination, making appropriate use of the Dissertation and other written assignments submitted

by the student. Trials should seek to establish that the student is in a position honestly and intelligently to sign the

Formula and is a proper person to be eligible for a call to a charge. The trials should establish that:

7.1 The student has a well-informed grasp of the whole doctrine of the Confession of Faith and is prepared

to subscribe to it unreservedly;

7.2 He sincerely and intelligently adheres to the principles of the Free Church of Scotland;

7.3 He has a sound working knowledge of the Practice of the Free Church of Scotland and is able to play a

part in church courts;

7.4 He has an evangelistic vision and sense of mission such that “zeal for the honour of God, love to Jesus

Christ, and desire of saving souls” are “his great motive and chief inducement to enter the holy ministry”;

7.5 He has sufficient experience of human life, sufficient sympathy with his people and knowledge of

practical theology to enable him to lead, counsel, encourage and warn the people of God;

7.6 He is firmly committed to maintaining the unity and peace of the Church and does not pursue practices

likely to be divisive.


8.1 It shall take a careful and combined view of the trials;

8.2 If it forms the opinion that the student is not properly qualified to sign the Formula and to perform the

duties of a minister of the Gospel it shall not grant him a licence. Since the Presbytery are the sole hearers of the

trials (and therefore the only party competent to judge them) its decision shall be final. No member of the court

shall have the right of Dissent and Complaint; and neither the student nor any other party shall have the right of

Appeal. The Moderator of Presbytery shall, however, inform the student that he has the right to apply to be taken

on trials again by this, or any other, presbytery of the Church, subject to the provisions of Paragraph 3 (2) above;

8.3 If, upon review of the trials, the Presbytery is fully satisfied with the student, the Moderator shall inform

him and the presbytery shall record the decision in its Minutes;

8.4 The Presbytery shall then meet in open court;

8.5 The Presbytery shall then, or at a later public meeting of Presbytery, put to the student the Questions

appointed for Probationers by Act XII, 1846. Having given satisfactory answers, the presbytery shall require the

student to subscribe the Formula. No student shall be licensed will not give explicit and satisfactory answers and

subscribe the Formula;



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8.6 The Moderator, in the name and by the authority of the presbytery, shall solemnly license the student as

a preacher of the Gospel; and the presbytery clerk shall issue him an extract of his Licence;

8.7 Within one week the Clerk of Presbytery shall forward the name and address of the licentiate, with the

date of his Licence, to the Principal Clerk of the General Assembly.

9. The General Assembly repeal Act XX, 2001, and any Acts not consistent with this Act and declare that

this Act contains the whole of the Assembly’s directions relating to the Trials of Students and the Licensing of

Probationers.

10. To ensure that this Act is observed, the General Assembly ordain: that it shall be printed among their

other printed Acts; that it shall be made available by itself and copies shall be placed on appropriate websites and

lodged with the Edinburgh Theological Seminary Senate and in the Seminary Library; and that a copy shall be

transmitted annually by the Clerk to the Board of Ministry, and at the commencement of the Seminary session, to

every candidate for the ministry who is entering his final year of study at Edinburgh Theological Seminary; and

a copy shall likewise be sent to presbytery clerks for the use of their respective courts and members.

4 Order of the Day There was an Order of the Day at 12 noon.

The General Assembly had the honour of a visit from the Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of

the Church of Scotland, Rt. Hon. Lord Hope of Craighead, who, at the Moderator’s invitation, addressed the

House. The Moderator expressed the Assembly’s sense of honour conferred by a visit of Her Majesty’s

representative.

5 The late Miss Anne Macleod The Moderator made reference to the recent passing of Miss Anne

Macleod, former Secretary to the College Board. It was agreed that the sympathy of the General Assembly be

expressed to Miss Macleod’s family.

6 Missionary Delegate The following missionary delegate was introduced to the Moderator and

invited to address the General Assembly:

Mr Joseph Steinberg Christian Witness to Israel

7 International Missions The General Assembly then called for the Report of the International

Missions Board, which, being printed and in the hands of members, was referred to by the Chairman who

addressed the Assembly thereanent.

First Motion It was moved and seconded that:

1. The General Assembly receive and adopt the Report of the International Missions Board and thank the

Board, especially the Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Secretary.

2. The General Assembly greet all our missionary personnel and assure them of their continued support.

The General Assembly also give thanks for safety and security for all the mission workers over the last year and

pray for their ongoing well-being in circumstances that can be precarious.

3. The General Assembly greet all our Free Church members working in areas of direct Free Church

missionary operation and assure them of our prayerful and practical support.

4. The General Assembly thank Rev. David and Mrs Olwen Ford for their service as Editors of the Mission

section of The Record.

5. The General Assembly thank Mrs Mairi MacDonald for producing the monthly Missionary Prayer Notes

and commend her to the prayers of the Church.

6. The General Assembly acknowledge with gratitude the part played by the Mission Support Groups in

raising funds and fostering an awareness of the special needs found in all areas of our missionary activity.



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7. The General Assembly commend the work of Women for Mission and express their gratitude for raising

funds for mission and raising the profile of mission in the Church. They express their appreciation for the help

and advice given by their representatives on the Board, Mrs Mairead Morrison and Mrs Sarah Cumming.

8. The General Assembly thank Miss Anna MacDonald and Mrs Mary MacMillan for their work in looking

after the furlough flat in Edinburgh.

9. The General Assembly instruct the new Missions Board to consult the wider church about the future

direction of missions and seek to re-engage the whole denomination with the missionary mandate of Christ.

Second Motion It was also agreed and seconded that:

The General Assembly note with concern, the decision of the International Missions Board to discontinue the

payment of a grant in 2015 for the support of Miss Catriona Macdonald, a teacher in the Colegio San Andres, and

urges the new Missions Board to consider the provision of adequate financial support for Miss Macdonald in

2016. It further instructs the new Missions Board to outline the criteria for the awarding of annual grants to

overseas work and report to the General Assembly of 2016.

On a vote being taken between the Second Motion and the First Motion, there was an equality of votes between

each and the Moderator exercised his casting vote in favour of the Second Motion.

Finding Wherefore:

1. The General Assembly receive and adopt the Report of the International Missions Board and thank the

Board, especially the Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Secretary.

2. The General Assembly greet all our missionary personnel and assure them of their continued support.

The General Assembly also give thanks for safety and security for all the mission workers over the last year and

pray for their ongoing well-being in circumstances that can be precarious.

3. The General Assembly greet all our Free Church members working in areas of direct Free Church

missionary operation and assure them of our prayerful and practical support.

4. The General Assembly thank Rev. David and Mrs Olwen Ford for their service as Editors of the Mission

section of The Record.

5. The General Assembly thank Mrs Mairi MacDonald for producing the monthly Missionary Prayer Notes

and commend her to the prayers of the Church.

6. The General Assembly acknowledge with gratitude the part played by the Mission Support Groups in

raising funds and fostering an awareness of the special needs found in all areas of our missionary activity.

7. The General Assembly commend the work of Women for Mission and express their gratitude for raising

funds for mission and raising the profile of mission in the Church. They express their appreciation for the help

and advice given by their representatives on the Board, Mrs Mairead Morrison and Mrs Sarah Cumming.

8. The General Assembly thank Miss Anna MacDonald and Mrs Mary MacMillan for their work in looking

after the furlough flat in Edinburgh.

9. The General Assembly instruct the new Missions Board to consult the wider church about the future

direction of missions and seek to re-engage the whole denomination with the missionary mandate of Christ.

10. The General Assembly note with concern, the decision of the International Missions Board to discontinue

the payment of a grant in 2015 for the support of Miss Catriona Macdonald, a teacher in the Colegio San Andres,

and urge the new Missions Board to consider the provision of adequate financial support for Miss Macdonald in

2016. It further instructs the new Missions Board to outline the criteria for the awarding of annual grants to

overseas work and report to the General Assembly of 2016.

8 Appointments The General Assembly proceeded to make the following appointments:



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Missions Board Dr John Morrison

Psalmody and Praise Committee Rev. Ruairidh Maclean, Convener

The Moderator was appointed to attend the General Assembly of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church in June 2016.

9 North American Synod

The Principal Clerk reported on the process of the negotiations with the North American Synod.


The General Assembly authorise the Clerks to maintain communication with the North American Presbyteries

and report to the Commission of Assembly in October 2015.

10 Visitation of Records The General Assembly then called for the Report of the Committee

on Visitation of Presbytery, Synod and Committee Records which was submitted by the Convener in the following

terms:

The Committee met on 19th May 2015 and was constituted with prayer.

Having examined all the available records the Committee found as follows:

SYNODS

None of the home Synods met since the 2014 General Assembly.

The Records of the Synod of North America were in order.

PRESBYTERIES

Northern

All in order

Glasgow and Argyll

All in order

Western Isles

All in order apart from Moderator’s signature missing from minutes of 23rd June 2014

Inverness, Lochaber and Ross

All in order

Skye and Wester Ross

All in order

COMMITTEES

Seminary Board

All in order

Board of Ministry

All in order

Home Missions Board

All in order

Board of Trustees

All in order



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International Missions Board

All in order apart from minute of 10th March 2015 where:

1. Minute should read 25th November 2015

2. Date of minute should read 10th March 2015

3. Typographical errors in minute

Psalmody and Praise Committee

All in order apart from minutes have been secured in binder out of sequence.


1. The General Assembly receive the Report and thank the Committee.

2. The General Assembly direct that all the records unavailable for examination be submitted to the Clerks

of Assembly so that they may be examined. They further instruct the Clerks to report their findings to the

Commission of Assembly in October 2015.

3. The General Assembly authorise the Clerk to attest all the records without defects.

4. The General Assembly authorise the Clerk to attest the other records when the defects mentioned are

made good.

11 Deceased Ministers and Elders The General Assembly then called for the Report of the

Committee appointed to prepare a Minute to Deceased Ministers and Elders, which was submitted by the

Convener and approved and ordered to be engrossed as follows:

Ministers:

There were no ministers lost through death.

Elders:

The returns indicated the loss of eight elders through death:

Mr Murdo Munro, Point

Mr Norman Smith, Cross

Mr Malcolm John Macleod, Carloway

Mr Angus Murray, North Tolsta

Mr Francis Maclean, Harris

Mr John Norman Campbell, Stornoway

Mr Alasdair J. M. Fraser, Plockton and Kyle

Mr John K. Macleod, Carbost

12 Protestations Protestations were called for but none was given in.

13 Commission The General Assembly proceeded to appoint the Commission:

The General Assembly hereby appoint a Commission consisting of all the members of this General Assembly

along with Rev. Neil MacMillan named by the Moderator to be their Commission.

This Commission is appointed to meet at Edinburgh on Wednesday 7th October 2015 and Wednesday 2nd March

2016 at 7 o’clock in the evening, and at other times and places as may be required with power to choose their own

Moderator.

The quorum shall be any twelve or more of their number, of whom four at least are always to be ministers.



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The General Assembly empower the said Commission, or their quorum, to take up and dispose of any matter

referred to them by the General Assembly or arising out of any Act or finding of the Assembly in accordance with

the instructions given by the Assembly; to give attention to the interests of the Church in every respect to ensure

that the Church does not suffer or incur any prejudice which it is possible for their powers to prevent, as they will

be answerable. This however, shall not apply to particular affairs or processes before Presbyteries or Synods

which have only a local relevance and have no reference to the whole Church.

Furthermore, in view of unresolved matters concerning the Free Church Continuing, including legal processes,

the occupation of property, the retention of other asssets, and fozen bank accounts, the General Assembly

empower the Commission to take all necessary and appropriate steps in the interest of the Church in connection

with these matters, and declare that meetings of the Commission shall have the full powers of a General Assembly

to deal with all such matters which may arise, provided always that notice of proposals in terms of this

empowerment shall be sent to commissioners at least ten days before the Commission are to convene, this

requirement not implying any curtailment of amendment to such proposals.

Furthermore the said Commission are hereby authorised to receive and dispose of any applications duly submitted

through Presbyteries and the Board of Ministry from ministers of other denominations seeking admission to the

Free Church ministry.

Furthermore the Commsiion are authorsided to receive and dispose of applications through Presbyteries from any

congregation wishing to join the Free Church of Scotland submitted in accordance with the procedures laid down

by the General Assembly.

Furthermore the Commission is empowered to receive and fully dispose of applications from preaching stations

to be raised to fully sanctioned charges submitted through the Missions Board; to link or unite two or more

congregations following upon a Report from the Missions Board; to appoint Ministers to overseas appointments

and Foreign Missionaries in the Mission Fields of the Church, to take up and dispose of a Report from the Board

of Trustees on the application of Ministers to become members of the PVG scheme; to take up and dispose of a

Report from the Board of Trustees concerning the Appointment of the Editor of The Record; to determine any

matter relating to the sale of property or release of funds which in the view of the Board of Trustees should be

determined by the Commission and brought by the Board ex proprio motu; to receive a report from the Missions

Board on arrangements for future ministry at Glenurquhart and Fort Augustus; and to receive a report from the

Missions Board on arrangements for future ministry at Harris; to receive a report from the Missions Board in

relation to Cobham Presbyterian Church; to receive a report from the Assembly Clerks anent the Presbytery in

North America.

The Commission shall give such a lead as they are able on moral issues and provide advice and assistance to

[Synods], Presbyteries and Committees and Boards of the General Assembly upon their making application.

It shall not be competent for the Commission to become involved in matters other than those committed and

referred to them as above. All their proceedings shall be conducted in accordance with the Acts and Constitution

of the Church, avoiding anything which is contrary or prejudicial to such Acts and Constitution.

The General Assembly further declare that in all their proceedings they shall be accountable to and censurable by

next General Assembly as they may find reason.

This Commission shall remain in being until another Commission is appointed. All members are required to

attend the diets of the Commission.

14 Thanks The thanks of the General Assembly were accorded to:

The Moderator; Principal Clerk; Rev. D. C. Meredith, Convener of the Ecumenical Relations Committee of the

HMB, Mr Andrew Longwe, Assembly Officer, Rev. William M. Mackay, Hospitality Co-ordinator; those

assisting with the sound and video address system; doorkeepers, Mrs Sharon Fraser, ladies who provided

hospitality, the cleaners and the Deacons’ Court of St Columba’s.

15 Appointment of next General Assembly The General Assembly appoint the next General

Assembly to meet in Edinburgh on Monday 23rd May 2016 at 6 o’clock.

16 Minutes The Minutes of this session’s Sederunt were read and approved.



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17 Closure The General Assembly was closed with prayer, the singing of Psalm 117 and the

Apostolic Benediction.

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